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Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquaa  ot  bibliographiquaa 


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Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


r~~1    Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagio 


□   Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurte  at/ou  palliculAa 

I — I    Covar  titia  missing/ 


D 
D 


D 
D 


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La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


Colourad  maps/ 

Cartas  giographiquas  9n  coulaur 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I      I   Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  9n  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autras  documants 


Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  rt  liura  sarrie  paut  causar  da  i'ombra  ou  da  la 
distorsion  ie  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte. 
male,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentairas: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meiileur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mtthoda  normaie  de  fllmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurias  at/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dicolories.  tachaties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachias 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  mat6rial  suppl^mentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Adition  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~T]  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~n  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  psrtialiy  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmtes  A  nouveau  de  fagon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


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18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

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The  copy  filmad  here  has  been  raproductd  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  of  tha  Public 
Archivas  of  Canada 

Tha  imager;  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  Civnsidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliustratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iliustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — »•  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  Y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 

Maps,  platas,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


L'axamplaira  film*  f ut  raproduit  grflca  A  la 
gAnArosit*  da: 

Lii  bibliothAque  das  Archivas 
publiquas  du  Canada 

Laa  imagas  suivantas  ont  tt6  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat«  da  l'axamplaira  film«,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvertura  an 
papiar  ast  imprimia  sont  film6s  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  laa  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darni^ra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  -^>  signifia  "A  SUiVRE",  la 
symbols  V  signifia  "FIN". 

Las  cartas,  planchas.  tablaaux,  ate,  pauvant  dtra 
filmte  A  das  taux  da  reduction  diffArants. 
Loraqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  saui  clichA,  11  ast  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angla  supAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  k  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  bas,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagas  nteassaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  mtthoda. 


^ 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MAJKDM   'GIBKI^  BIR(DWN 


U.  B,Ajpinyc 


■»*'H/l 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


01^  THE 


LATE  WAR 


»***««"»  AVW^A'/^f^'*^^-.,.^    _ 


/* 


BETWEEN  THE 


W^\ 


tmmj}  STATJBS  AND  GB]I^AT  BBIfAIK. 


ST  jamr  m^0  mmsfopr, 


.■Jtf. 


V  ■     ■    • 


-%: 


ifiimi^:^jimm^f^^^ 


/■r¥- 


sBBtaip^lPppfB 


PHILADEI^PHIiis 
rV9U8H£D  BY  THOU^  Wfm*y^% 

* 

Also  by  M.  Ctaev  fc  Bon,  A.  Small,  and  M.  "Ilioiiuui,  nuIaddpl^Y 
'  E.  Weems  and  J.  MiHigan,  Oeot^town  (D.  C);  D.  Kennedy  Ic 
Sons,  and  John  Stewaitl,  Alexandria;  P.  Gottonii  tliqhi|iond 
fVa.):  R.  Cottom,  Petenbuivh  (Va.);  Cale}>  Bomal,  NotfoO: 
(Va,);  B.  C.  Weightman,  Washington  Ci^j  J.  T.  Vance,  CoaJe 
Sc  Maxwell,  and  F.  Lucas,  Baltimore;  Fatters9n  &  Lambdin, 
Pitt8bui|;h  (Pa.);  W.  Graydon,  Hanuburgh  (Pa.^}  «i)4  A.  % 
Goodrich,  New  Tork. 

Ciark  U  Rater,  Printen,  78  JVo^  Fifth  St. 


Maj— 1818. 


^Rfi^^^vnmvpi^iiapHMiiHi 


SECB 


AS  WE 


Tonegr* 


JHftfipt  pf  PenMtfhania,  tcf  mi; 

Bb  it  BXXBMBXRS9)  Thflt  tin  the.  eleventh  day  of  April,  in 
the  forty-second  year  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
6f  America,  A.  D.  1818,<  John  Lewis  Thomson  and  Thomas  De- 
iOvfcr  c/£  the  said  district,  have  deported  in  this  office  the  title 
of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  proprietors,  in  the 
words  folio  wing,  to  wit: 

**  Historical  Sketches  of  the  Late  War  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  By  John  Lewis  Thomson,  fifth, 
and  an  improved  Edition." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States, 
eiitiUedj  **  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing 
|Le  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  pro* 
prietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned.**-^ 
^nd  also  to  the  ac^  entitled,  "  An  act  supplementarv  to  an  act, 
entitled,  '  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing 
the  copies  of  map's,  charts,  and  hooks,  to  the  authors  and  pro- 
prietors of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,' 
and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  en* 
graving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

D.  CALDWELL, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


AND 


Att] 


f- 


TO  THE  * 

HON.  JAMES  MONBOE, 

SECBETARY  OT  STATE^  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

WHOSE  EFFORTS, 

AS  WELL  ON  AN  EMBASSY  TO  THE  COURT  OF  ST.  JAMES, 
AS  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

To  negfotiate  an  honourable  Adjustment  of  those  Differences  which 
resuKed  io  the  late  Contest  with  Great  Britain, 


April,  in 
ed  States 
omasDe- 
:  the  title 
■8,  in  the 


e  United 
1.    Fifth, 


sd  States, 

securing 

and  pro* 

oned.**-*- 

to  an  act, 

securing 

and  pro- 

intioned,' 

;ning,  en- 

1., 

Dsylvania. 


WKSE  OHAHACTXBXSXS  BT  '^X  MOST  tXVKfXTlBABUl  ZEII.; 

AND  WHO  FRESmED  WITH  DISTINGUISHED  ABIUTY 
IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  WAR, 

At  the  Period  most  inemorable  for  the  Achievements  of  the 

American.anns; 

THIS  WORKy 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED,  BY 

i  ^ 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Philadelphia,  July  4, 1816. 


«■■ 


wfT^^^^^WPMW"* 


PREFACE 


TO 


THE  FIRST  EDITION. 

"WnHEN  proposals  were  issued  for  the  publi- 
cation of  this  work,  some  time  after  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain, 
its  contemplated  plan  embraced  nothing  more 
than  the  compilation  of  hasty  sketches  of  the 
leading  events  of  the  war,  arranged  in  chrono- 
logical order,  and  with  a  proper  regard  to  the 
preservation  of  iSfie  principal  features,  and  the 
general  characters,  of  the  land  and  naval  en- 
gagements. The  author  was  not  long  in  disco- 
vering that  infinite  pains  and  excessive  labour 
were  necessary,  to  the  collection  of  materials 
from  which  these  sketches,  however  concise, 
might  be  made,  with  that  fidelity  which  such 
subjects  require. 

His  resources  at  that  period,  though  stamped 
ith  the  character  of  authenticity,  were  extreme- 
limited,  and  he  found  it  necessaiy  to  intimate 
is  intentions  to  officers  of  the  army  and  navy, 
ho  had  been  engaged  in  many  of  the  events 
hich  it  was  his  design  to  perpetuate,  and  upon 
the  truth  of  whose  statements  he  could  implicitly 


11 


PREFACE. 


i 


rely.  These  intimations  were  followed  by  many 
assurances  of  ^.as^istance  from  gentlemen  of  all 
ranks  in  the  service,  and  by  promises  of  full, 
and  accurate,  accounts  of  the  operations  of  the 
fleets  and  armies.  From  such  fruitful  and  au- 
jthentic  sources,  the  author  could  not  fail  to  elicit 
the  best  possible  information,  and  though  he  did 
not  immediately  contemplate  an  extension  of  the 
limits  of  the  work,  he  determined  to  put  it  more 
in  the  form  of  a  famihar  and  connected  narra- 
tive, than  might  have  been  expected  from  its 
titlcy, without  assuming,  however,  the  style  of  a 
history. 

The  length  a  ad  number  of  the  journals  and 
statements  transmitted  to  him,  not  only  tended 
to  increase  his  labours,  but  produced  much  more 
delay  in  the  completion  of  the  work,  and  pro- 
longed its  appearance  beyond  the  day  on  which 
it  was  thought  it  would,  in  all  probability,  be 
published. 

To  the  same  cause  is  to  be  attributed  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  attained  the  three  hun 
dredth  page,  before  tlie  account  of  the  northern 
campaign  was  fully  detailed,  and  to  that  circum- 
stance he  must  refer  his  readers,  for  the  concise- 
ness of  the  description  of  the  capture  of  Wash 
ington,  the  attack  upon  Baltimore,  the  operation 
upon  the  whole  southern  coast,  and  of  the  bril 


PREFACE. 


Ill 


by  many 
en  of  all 
3  of  full, 
ns  of  the 
i  and  aii- 
1  to  elicit 
^h  he  did 
on  of  the 
it  it  more 

» 

5d  narra- 

from  its 

style  of  a 

rnals  and 
ly  tended 
uch  more 
and  pro- 
on  which 
bility,  be 

id  the  cir- 
iree  hun- 
northern 
t  circum- 
e  concise- 
of  Wash- 
)perations 

r  the  bril-l 


liant  and  unparalleled  repulse  of  the  enemy  be- 
fore New  Orleans.  Limited  as  thftse  descriptions 
are,  it  became  necessary  to  add  seventy-tAro 
pages  to  the  number  promised,  and  the  expenses 
of  the  work  have,  in  consequence,  been  so  much 
increased,  that  without  incurring  an  absolut^^ 
loss,  its  bulk  could  not  possibly  be  any  further 
extended.  x 

The  Author  cannot  conclude  this  Preface, 
without  assuring  his  readers  thafno  efforts  have 
been  neglected  to  ascertain  the  principal  facts 
connected  with  the  events  of  the  war.  Perse- 
vering  as  he  has  been,  however,  he  fears  that 
omissions  have  been  made,  or  that  some  mis- 
statements may  have  crept  into  the  work,  and 
to  such  he  begs  the  indulgence  of  those  persons 
who  were  concerned  in  the  events,  as  the  attain- 
ment of  the  knowledge  of  such  facts  too  fre- 
quently eludes  the  most  industrious  research^ 
and  the  contradictory  accounts,  with  which  he 
has  been  supplied,  have  often  thrown  tum  into 
perplexing  embarrassments. 


PREFACE 


TO 


I 


THE-  FIFTH  EDITION. 

#  SINCE  the  publication  of  the  first  edition  of 
this  work,  the  author  has  been  constantly  em- 
ployed in  collecting  further  materials  from  \rhich 
to  describe  the  sortie  from  fort  Ei*ie,  and  the 
siege  and  defence  of  New  Orleans.  Through 
the  politeness  of  several  gentlemen,  whose  names 
he  does  not  feel  himself  authorized, ,  nor  is  he 
indeed  permitted,  to  mention,  he  has  been  ena- 
bled to  detail  the  operations  of  the  rival  armies, 
more  at  length,  at  each  of  those  places.  He  has 
had  it  in  his  power  also  to  enlarge  upon  the  ac- 
counts, before  given,  of  other  important  and 
brilliant  events,  and  to  correct  several  errors, 
which,  notwithstanding  the  most  studied  precau- 
tions, seldom  fail  to  insinuate  themselves  into 
all  works  of  this  nature.  From  these,  however, 
evei^  in  the  present  edition,  he  cannot  have  the 
presumption  to  avow  himself  wholly  free;  but  he 
has,  nevertheless,  the  satisfaction  of  declaiing, 
that  many  of  his  statements  have  received  the 
entire  approbation  of  officers  of  rank,  to  whom 
the  perusal  of  the  first  edition  has  been  sub- 
mitted. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

• 

ON  presenting  to  the  public  a  fifth  edition  of  the 
Historical  Sketches  of  the  Late  War,  the  subscriber  thinks 
it  incumbent  on  him  to  state,  that  notwithstanding  its  price 
has  been  reduced  from  Two  Dollars  to  One  Dollar  and 
Seventy-five  Cents,  bound,  the  work  has  undergone  a  very 
careful  revision  by  the  author,  and  without  any  diminU' 
tion  of  the  number  of  pages.  This  reduction  of  the  price 
owes  its  cause  to  the  publication,  at  a  lower  price,  of  a 
similar  work,  after  the  appearance  of  a  former  impres- 
sion of  this,  with  an  evident  intention  of  checking  its 
sale,  and  limiting  the  just  profits  of  the  proprietor.  To 
obviate  as  much  as  possible  the  consequences  of  a  compe- 
tition, ungenerous  in  itself  and  subversive  of  the  general 
principles  of  the  trade,  he  has  so  far  lessened  the  expenses 
of  the  work,  as.  to  enable  him  to  put  it  at  its  present  price, 
without  injury  to  his  interests.  The  illiberality  of  the  com- 
petition alluded  to,  is  highly  aggravated  by  the  fact  of  the 
compilation  having  been  made  so  much  after  the  manner 
of  the  Historical  Sketches,  that  if  the  copy-right  has  not 
been  actually  violated,  the  privileges  which  the  law  so 
justly  secures  to  the  proprietor  of  a  work,  have  been  gla- 
ringly infringed. 

THOMAS  DESILYER. 


A  2 


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S^r 


CONTENTS. 


.r 


CHAPTER  I. 

[sDiAW  hostilities — ^Battle  on  the  Wabash — Conduct  of  the  Bri- 
tish Cabinet  and  cruisers — Declaration  of  war.  a^nst  Great 
Britain — ^Invasion  of  Canada — ^Fall  of  Fort  Michihmackinac — 

•  Skirmish  near  Aux  Canards — M* Arthur's  Excursion — Skirmish 
at  Brownstown — Evacuation  of  Sandwich — Battle  of  Maguaga 
— Fort  Chicago— Surrender  of  Detroit,  pa^re  13 


* 


CHAPTER  n. 

I  Disposition  of  the  Naval  Forcefr-^Escape  of  the  Constitution — 
Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisals — Atlas  engages  two  anned 
ships— Essex  captures  the  Alert — Engagement  between  the 
Constitution  and  Guerriere — ^Pursuit  of  the  Belvidere — ^An  En- 
gagement on  the  St.  Lawrence— Capture  of  the  British  brigs 
Detroit  and  Caledonia,  on  Lake  Erie — ^Wasp  <»ptures  the  Frolic 
— ^Both  taken  by  the  Poictiers— Loss  of  the  United  States* 
schooners  Nautilus  and  Vixen,  p.  35 

CHAPTER  III. 

I  Hostilities  of  the  Creek  Inctians — Fight  near  Davis*  Creek — Bat- 
Ue  of  the  Lotchway  town.  p.  49 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Organization  of  the  Northwestern  arniy — ^Its  disposition — Com- 
'     mand  pven  to  general  Harrison'— Defence  of  Fort  Harrison — <■ 
Siege  of  Fort  Wayne — Expedition  agfj^lnstthe  Indian  towns,  p.  53 


CHAPTER  V. 

British  evacuate  Fort  Defiance — ^Death  of  Logan — Battle  on  the 
Mississinewa — ^Left  wing  of  the  army  moves  from  Defiance 
to  the  Bapida — ^Excursion  of  the  Kentucky  brigade  into  In- 
diana, p.^ 


VIU 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


.   V 


I  J 


3 


American  forces  on  the  Niagara  and  St.  Lawrence — An  affair  I 
upon  the  latter — Expedition  against  Gananoque — ^Bombardment 
of  Ogdensburg^ — Attack  upon  it — Disposition  of  the  forces  on  [ 
the  Nia^ra — Description  of  Queenstown — Battle  of  Queens> 
town  Heigphts — Death  of  general  Brock — Defeat  of  the  Ame- 
rican forces — Cannonade  between  Fort  George  and  Fort  Nia- 
gara— An  affair  below  Ogdensburg — ^Pike's  incursion  into  Ca- 
nada— ^Bombardment  of  Fort  Nii^^ara — Capture  of  the  enemy's  I 
baggage   at   St.  Re^s — General  Smyth's  Proclamation — ^The  I 
British  batteries  opposite  Black  Rock,  stormed  and  carried —  i 
Abandoned  by  the  Americans,  they  open  a  fire  on  the  battery 
^t  the  Rock,  .  p.  66 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

The  Navy — Third  naval  victory,  the  United  States  over  the  Bri- 
tish frigate  the  Macedonian — ^Progress  of  the  naval  establish- 
ment on  Lake  Ont^rio->-Chauncey's  squadron  pursues  the  Royal 
George  into  Kingston  harbour,  and  bombards  that  town-— 
Growler  captures  an  enemy's  sloop — Fight  between  the  British 
sloop  of  war  C)iarybdis  and  the  privateer  Blockade — The  Or- 
ders in  Council  exchanges  broadsides  with  the  British  sloop  of  | 
war  Opossum — The  Tom  captures  the  Townsend — ^The  Bona 
vanquishes  a  22  gun  ship — The  Dolphin  engages  and  carries 
two  armed  vessels — Fourth  naval  victory,  the  Constitution  over 
the  British  frigate  the  Java,  p.  90 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

Contemplated  movement  of  the  British  and  Indians  from  Maiden 
to  Frenchtown — Battle  between  the  advance  of  both  armies, 
and  the  defeat  of  the  British — Capture  of  general  Winchester's 
force,  and  massacre  of  the  prisoners — Siege  of  Fort  Meigs — 
Dudley's  victory — Wis  defeat  and  death — Sortie  from  the  gar- 
rison— Siege  of  Fort  Meigs  raised — Council  of  the  Indian  chiefs 
—Colonel  Ball  destroys  a  party  of  tlie  hostile  Indians,      p.  100 


H4 


fL 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Preparations  for  the  campaign  of  1813,  by  the  Northwestern 
Army  and  the  Army  of  the  Centre — Expedition  agunst  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Canada — Cajiture  of  Ogdensburg  by  the  British — 
Batteries  at  Black  Rocc — Concentration  of  forces  at  Sacket's 
Harbour — Description  of  the  town  and  harbour  of  Little  York, 
capita]  of  Upper  Canada — Embarkation  of  general  Dearborn's 
army  at  Sacket's  Harbour— American  fleet  under  commodore 


CONTENTS. 


% 


IX 


Chauncey  smIs  thence — ^Arrives  at  the  mouth  of  York  Harbour 
— British  force  under  general  Sheaffe — Its  disposition — Landing 
of  the  American  advimce-»-Fight  in  the  Woods — ^Landing  of 
tlie  main  force — British  retreat  to  their  garrison — Their  works 
outside,  taken — They  abandon  their  fort — Explosion  of  the 
mag^ine — Death  of  general  Pike — ^The  Americans  enter  the 
garrison — Command  devolves  on  coIoneL  Pearpe— General 
Sheaffe  withdraws  his  forces  from  the  town,  and  retreats  across 
the  Don— ;Hi8  rear  guard  annoyed  by  lieutenant  Kiddle — Capi- 
tulation of  the  militia  and  capture  of  York — The  British  destroy 
the  military  storehouse,  whilst  negotiating  for  terms,  and  set 
fire  to  a  vessel  of  war — ^The  Americans  leave  York  and  proceed 
to  Niagara — ^Fleet  sails  to  Sacket's  Harbour,  for  reinforcements 
— An  expedition  to  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario— Fleet  retums-r- 
Its  disposition  before  Newark-^- Attack  upon  and  capture  of  Fort 
George — Fleet  on  Lake  Erie — Capture  of  Fort  Erie — Defeat 
of  generals  Chandler  and  Winder— Attack  on  Sacket's  Harbour 
by  sir  George  Prevost — His  repulse,  p.  117 


CHAPTER  X. 

leneral  Dearborn  retires  from  the  command  of  the  Northern 
Army — Command  of  Fort  George  devolves  on  general  Boyd — 
Capture  of  the  Lady  Murray — Destruction  of  Sodiis — Attempt 
to  land  at  Oswego — ^Affair  at  Beaver  Dams— Escape  of  tlie  mi- 
litia prisoners  m)m  the  head  of  the  Lake — ^Massacre  of  lieu- 
tenant Eldridge — ^Affair  between  the  British  Indians  and  Young 
Cornplanter — ^British  ag{un  attack  Black  Rock — Capture  of  an 
enemy's  gun  boat — Fort  George  invested — American  outposts 
attacked — Second  expedition  to  York^— British  capture  the 
Growler  and  Eagle — Enter  Champlain,  pillage  and  destroy  the 
private  houses— Chase  of  the  British  fleet  on  Lake  Ontario — 
Encampment  at  Fort  George,  and  re-possession  of  Newark  by 
the  enemy — He  retires  to  his  entrenchments — Capture  of  a 
British  officer  by  an  American  sentinel,  p.  148 


CHAPTER  XI. 

'he  Northwestern  Army — ^British  appear  again  before  Fort  Meigs 
— Defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  Lower  Sandusky — Capture  '^f 
the  British  fleet  on  Lake  Erie — ^Northwestern  Army  remforced 
from  Kentucky — Is  transported  by  the  American  fleet  to  Canada 
— Capture  of  Maiden — The  Americans  enter  Sandwich— Pur- 
sue  tne  British  up  La  Tranche — Skirmish  in  Chatham — Battle 
of  tlie  Thames — Defeat  and  capture  of  general  Proctor's  army 
— Escape  of  that  officer — Death  of  Tecumseh — Destruction  of 
the  Moravian  Town — The  antiy  sails  for  and  arrives  at  Buffa- 
loc,  p,  159 


it 


4' 


Y  - 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Wan  of  operations  on  the  St.  Lawrence — Concentration  of  thej 
forces  on  Grenadier  Island — British  abandon  the  investment  ofl 
Fort  George — Dosoent  of  the  St.  Lawrence — Skirmishes  in  itsi 
course — ^Battle  of  Chfystler's  Kelds — The  left  wing  of  the! 
Northern  army  retires  to  winter  quarters — The  right  wingi 
marches  through  the  Chateaugay  woods — Is  attacked  by  the! 
British-^Engages  and  repulses  them — Goes  also  into  winter! 
quarters — The  Americans  evacuate  Fort  George  and  destroy! 
Newark — Sxirrender  of  Fort  Niagara — Destruction  of  Le  wistownl 
andBuffaloe,  />.  177! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Navy — Hornet  challenges  Bonne  Citoyenne — Is  chased  from! 
St.  Salvador — Engages  and  captures  the  sloop  of  war  Peacock! 
—Arrives  at  New  York — Return  of  the  frigate  Chesapeake — | 
Her  cruise — Arrival  and  departure  of  the  President  and  Con- 
gress*—Death  of  captain  Lawrence  and  loss  of  the  Chesapeake  I 
— Conduct  of  the  pnvateers — ^Lieutenant  St.  Clair  in  Chesapeake  I 
Bay — Fight  between  the  Commodore  Decatur  and  the  sloop  of  I 
war  Dominica,  /►.  ISSf 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Blockade  of  the  Delaware  River  and  of  Chesapeake  Bay — Attack! 
upon  Lewistown,  on  the  former — ^Affair  below  Lewistown — j 
Repulse  of  the  enemy  near  Morris  River — ^The  gun  boats  attacks 
two  frigates — Engagement  on  the  Delaware — Depredations  iiil 
Chesapeake  Bay — Frequent  failures  of  the  enemy  to  land-*-! 
Affwr  at  Frenchtown — Destruction  of  Havre  de  Grace,  and  cf  j 
Georgetown  and  Fredericktown — ^Blockade  of  other  ports — [ 
Loss  of  the  revenue  cutter  Surveyor — Action  between  the 
gun  boats  and  three  frigates — Defence  of  Crany  Island — Hamp-  j 
ton  assaulted  and  plundered,  p.  204! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

British  land  at  Ocracoke  and  Portsmouth — Capture  two  letters  of  | 
marque — Distribution  of  admiral  Warren's  fleet — United  States' 
schooner  Asp — A  fishing  smack,  the  Yankee,  captures  a  British  | 
tender,  the  Eagle — The  frigates  United  States  and  Macedonian, 
and  the  sloop  of  war,  Hornet,  blockaded  at  New  London — Mid- 
shipman Ten-Eyke — ^British  at  Saybrook — Engagement  in  Con- 
necticut Sound — Wareham  and  Scituate — Occupation  of  East- 


CONTENTS. 


U 


port.  Moose  island — Attack  upon  Stonington — ^British  clum  the 
territonr  east  of  the  Penobscot,  and  occupy  Castine— Loss  of 
the  United  States'  frigate  Adams,  p.  224 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Navy — United  States'  gun  brig  Arg^,  captured  by  the  sloop 
of  war  Pelican — ^The  Boxer  and  the  Enterprise— Allen  and 
Burrows — Commodore  Rodgers  and  the  Planta^enet — ;Constitu- 
tion  chased  into  Marblehead — Commodore  Lewis — Cruise  of  the 
Essex  frigate — Her  capture — United  States'  sloop  of  war  Pea- 
cock, vanquishes  the  British  brig  of  war  Epervier — Cruise  of 
the  new  sloop  of  war  M' asp — Her  conquest  over  the  Reindeer — 
She  sinks  the  Avon,  p.  235 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

I  Proposed  plan  of  operations  in  Lower  Canada — ^The  army  quit  the 
quarters  at  French  Mills — Incursion  of  the  British  to  Malone — 
Smugglers — Movei  .ent  against  La  Colle — Concentration  of  the 
British  forces  at  Isle  aux  Noix — General  Wilkinson's  recal — 
Establishment  of  a  battery  at  Otter  creek — ^British  appear  at  its 
mouth — ^are  repulsed — Operations  on  Ontario — ^Lieutenant Dud- 
ley—Defence  of  Fort  Oswego— Second  appearance  of  th«  Bri- 
tish there — Attack  upon  Charlottetown,  on  Gennessee  river- 
British  land  at  Poultneyville — Blockade  of  Sacket's  Harbour — 
An  engagement  at  Sandy  creek,  and  capture  of  the  whole  Bri- 
tish force — The  British  fleet  retire  to  Kingston — The  Americans 
blockade  them — An  affair  near  Odelltown — Death  of  colonel 
Forsythe — Expedition  against  Long  Point,  Canada — Colonel 
Baubee  taken  prisoner — Incursion  to  Long  Wood,  Canada,  and 
defeat  of  the  British,  p.2SS 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Assemblage  of  the  left  division  of  the  army  at  Black  Rock  and 
Buffaloe — Capture  of  Fort  '^'^e — Americans  encamp  at  Street's 
creek — Skirmish  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard — Affairs  of  pic- 
quets — Battle  of  Chippewa — British  retreat  to  Ten  Mile  Creek 
— American  army  encamp  at  Queenstown — Death  of  general 
Swift — Movement  upon  Fort  George — General  Brown  retires  to 
Chippewa  creek— Battle  of  Niagara,  p.  272 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Defences  of  Fort  Erie  extended— Invested  by  the  enemy— The 
British  land  below  Buffaloe — ^and  are  repulsed  at  Conejockeda 
creek— Affaifs  of  outposts— Death  of  major  Morgan— Assault 


zu 


'Wy 


OONTENTS. 


upon  Fort  Erie — The  besiegpers  driven  back  to  their  works— 
Loss  of  the  schooners  Somers  and  Ohio— Renewal  of  the  can. 
nonade  and  bombardment,  p.  303 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Invanon  of  the  American  territory  by  sir  George  Prevost — Battle 
of  the  Saranac — ^Defeat,  and  capture  of  the  British  fleet  on  Lake 
Champlain — ^Plattsburgh  evacuated — Continuation  of  the  siege 
of  Fort  Erie — The  besieged  make  a  sortie  from  their  works, 
and  storm  those  of  the  besiegers — ^The  British  raise  the  siege 
and  retire  to  Chippewa — Eng^ement  at  Lyons*  creek — ^Des- 
truction of  Fort  Erie  by  the  Americans,  and  evacuation  of  Up- 
per Canada — Operations  against  MichiUmackinac— Loss  of  the 
United  States'  vessels,  Scorpion  and  Tigress — Expedition  into 
Canada,  under  general  M'Arthur,  p.  316 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

itepeated  engagements,  between  the  gun  boat  Flotilla,  and  the 
British  vessels  in  the  Patuxent — ^Bladensburg — Capture  of 
Washington — Of  Alexandria — ^Death  of  sir  Peter  Parker— ^At- 
tack upon  Baltimore — Death  of  general  Ross,  and  repulse  of 
his  army— Blockade  and  siege  of  New  Orleans — Defeat  of  the 
British  forces  there — Termination  of  the  war,  by  a  treaty  of 
peace  and  anuty,  negotiated  at  Ghent,  p.  332 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Navy — ^Loss  of  the  United  States'  frigate  President— The 
Constitution  engages,  and  captures,  the  British  frigate  Cyane, 
and  the  sloop  of  war  Levant-— Capture  of  the  sloop  of  war  Pen- 
guin, by  the  Hornet,  p.  361 


feir  works— 
of  the  can 
p.  303 


kst— BatUe 
leet  on  Lake 
pf  the  siege 
^heir  works, 
i  the  siefife 
Ireek—Des- 
Ition  of  Up. 
■Loss  of  the 
edition  into 
/».  316 


4 


HI8TOBIC4JL  SKETCH1» 


■* 


QF  THK 


I.ATE  WAB,  ^. 


a»  and  the 
capture    of  i 
arke^-At- 

repulse  of 
feat  of  the 
a  treaty  of 
p.  332 


lentr-The 

te  Cyane, 

warPen- 

p.Z%l 


CH^ypTBEl. 


Mrifish^  (kddnet  and  Crmim^^ifediiriffi^  otJWar 

JutfinstJEhrm^  BrUai^--'iiiwmm  of  Xhi^9tida--^0ttl  of 

Fort  Mip1iiHmaekismc'--^-&lch^8h  itear  Jmie  OanaifmL 

JBva^pic^n  </  ^an4wy^h-rf$i0le  tf  ^a^au^^or^Fort 
Chieagorr'Swrrender  of  Ihtroit 

About  fbe  close  of  the  year  1811,  the  Indian  aJfiurs 
on  the  southern  and  nor^iwestem  frontiers  of  the  United 
States*  assumed  an  aspect  of  a  much  more  alarming  nature 
than  had  marjced  any  of  the  previous  depnedations  of  Ae 
neiffhbouring  tribes.  Incessant  incursions,  were  followed 
by  m»  extinction  of  wlu>le  famtfi^*and  the  seyeral  nations 
seemed  emiilous  of  excelling  each  other  in  acts  of  th6 
greatest  horror.  An  unextin^ishable  hostility  was  mani- 
fested by  Jbe  most  powerful  chiefs  and  warriors^  whose 
enmity  towards  the  frontier  inhabttant^-^fas  etcited,  and 
kept  alive,  by  an  industrioua  circulatioiii  oi  inflammatorT 
addressee  and  aUnring  ^fts.  Th^  conduct  of  the  British 
traders,  was  £u:irom  being  consifttttiit  with  the  pacific  dis- 


14 


'^HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


H 


{% 


m 


position,  which  their  government  had  been  professing;  and 
the  facility  with  which  the  Indians  became  possessed  of 
every  description  of  offensive  weapons,  known  to  be  be- 
yono  their  means,  either  to  manufacture  or  to  purchase, 
led  to  sOBplctiins  of  th^  having;  4)een  8uj|)ptied  by  it»  ap- 
pointed agents.  The  result  of  ihvestigations,  made  by  the 
governors  of  Ohio,  and  of  the  Michigan  and  Illinois  terri- 
tories, save  strone  confirmation  of  these  suspicions,  and  it 
was  wdl  ascertained  that  great  quantities  of  arms,  and 
ammunition,  had  been  delivered  to  tiie  different  nations, 
contiguous  to  the  British  posts. 

The  inflaenee  of  a  mtawaneae,  yf\m  ityled  himself 
^The  Prophet"  and  who  neglected  no  means  to  excite 
the  most  violent  animosities  against  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  had  produced  among  the  Indians,  on  the 
bord^^  of  tiie  Wamsh,  « ^^spcM^ion  to  massacre  and 
plunder,  to  so  enormous  an  extent,  that  the  vigorous  in- 
terferf^nce  of  tiie  government  was  no  longer  to  be  with- 
held.   Measures  were  therefore  immediately  adopted,  in 
conjunction  with  governor  W.  H.  Harrison,  to  repel  by 
force,  6U|tniges,  whi'^h  could  not  be  prevented  by  treaty. 
The  mmtia  of  Indiana,  and  a  regiment  of  United  States 
infiuitry,  commanded  by  colonel  (since  general)  John  P. 
Boyd,  werte  accordingly  ordered  to  march  under  governor 
Harrison,  to  the  Propet^  town  to  demand  restoration  of 
the  plunder,  which  tne  Indkns  had  seized,  and  to  reduce 
them  to  such  terms,  as  should  secure  tiie  future  peace  of 
Ailt  territory.    Fn  the  month  of  November,  of  1811,  this 
body  of  troops  were  within  four  miles  of  the  Prophet's 
town,  (having  already  marched  thirty-four  days)  before 
^e  Indians  had  any  expectation  of  seemg  them ;  when  one 
of  the  'chiefs  came  out,  and  proposed  that  governor  Harri- 
soti  ^ould  eneamp  near^em  until  morning,  at  which  time 
the  Prophet  wotfld  willingly  enter  Intb'  a  treaty  of  peace. 
This  proposal  was  agrfeeato,and  the  troops  w€re  encamp- 
ed in  line  of  battle,  with  ordwrg  to  kefep  on  their  accoutre- 
ments, and  to  lie  upon  their  «ni«,  so  that  ^ey  might  be 
reaAy  for  action  without  one  moment's  delay.    At  four 
o^clock  an  the  morning  of  *he  seventh;  the  camp  was  at- 
taclt^with  great  fury,  by    he  savages,  ut  a  pomt  where 
the  bayonet,  ftotveyer,  socm  dispersed  tb^  and  where 
thre<^>  Indians  were  found  within  the  llneof  sentindsseek^ 
ing  the  commander.    The  morning  was  excessively  d»rk. 


OF  THB  LATE  WAB. 


15 


and  the  men  could  only  be  distingiuahed  by  the  w^tob* 
word«  or  the  flushes  of  tKe  muaketiy.  By  the  aid  of  thii, 
monoeRtdKy  lig^t,  th^  Indiana  were  seen  cirowtUBg  Uto  the 
camp,  Imt  they  were  entirely  routed  by  several  viMiroua 
and  intrepid  cnarges.  The  conduct  of  colonel  Idvya  and 
the  fourth  reciment,  after  the  action  had  become  more  fo-^ 
neraU  intimidated  and  put  the  Indians  to  flight:  at  w» 
dawn  of  day  they  were  closely  pursued*  and  numbers  of 
them  killed*  The  cavalry  wece  brought  into  action*  but 
the  savages  fled  from  them  in  sreat  confusion,  abandoned 
their  town*  into  which  they  had  been  driven,  and  j^scaped 
across  the  civer.  Fifty^tnree  Indiana  were  lying  dead 
about  the  encampment,  and  their  loss  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed, was  estimated  at  150..  Of  the  fourth  regimeat  77  wer^ 
killed  and  wounded*  The  loss  of  the  whole  force  amounts 
ed,  from  die  most  accurate  account,  to  187.  Most  of  the» 
militia  under  governor  Harrison,  behaved  with  great  cou* 
rage  nnd  bravery;  and  to  colonel  Boyd,  whose  experienco 
in  the  Mahrattah  (India)  «enrice,  led  to  such  an  expect 
tion,is  much  of  the  success  of  this  battle  to  be  atplliited.* 
Tranquillity  being  now  restcured  to  the  territory  of  In- 
diana, the  tro(q;»s  returned  to  fort  Harrison,  and  the  mil^ 
tia  to  their  homes.  Many  months  had  not  ela|ised,  how- 
ever, before  the  Prophet  in  connexion  witL  kis  brother^ 
Tecwnseh,  a  chief  of  great  valowrv^nd  <tf  equal  ambition* 
threatwed  a  renewal  of  hostilities,  not  only  againat  the 
inhabitants  of  Indiana,  but  of  the  adjacent  territories.  To 
guard  against  future  encroachments  frwn  tiie  savages, 
and  to  protect  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  had  yet  escaped 
their  fury«  it  was  necessary  timt  the  peace  estabUeiunent 
should  be  augmented,  and  new  regiments  raised,>  of  a  na- 
ture to  cope  with  ]kh^  Indian  warfare.  Indications  of  hqs^ 
tiUty  to  the  inter^i^  of  the  United  States,  were  ab^ut  iiaa 
time  evinced  in  the  conduct,  as  well  of  the  British  minis- 


*  Tn  this  Action  the  Indians  Were  oommandecl  by  WUie  Ijo&h, 
Stone  JBaieryunA  IVyntmaek,  »  Pot*wato«aie  cl^f,  who  was  ttU»hi 
afterwards  (in,  Novepiber,  1812)  by  TecB«MW^«  nephew,  a  f^aef  of 
the  name  <»'  i^Ajpn,  attsched  to  toe  northwestern  anny,  at  fort 
Winchester.  Tecunuen  was  absent  fhnn  his  tribe  on  a  Visit  to  tiie 
Creeks  ind  Chidtasaws,  and  ihe  Ih^het  remained  in  his  town, 
during  the  engagement,  offering  1^  inttrcesrions  with  the  iErcat 
Spirit,  ^  the  suocess  of  his  wrms. 


16 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


1 


try,  M  of  their  public  shi)M  of  war,  on  the  American  coas^ 
In  neatriU  ports,  and  on  the  ocean.  ^  ^ 

In  the  e^ent  of  a  more  decided  obaracter  being  given 
to  this  state  of  relations,  between  the  United  States,  and 
€h!«at  Britain,  and  the  Indians,  the  necessity  of  a  laq^r 
aniiy  would  become  still  more  urgent  In  providing 
againist  these  threatening  evils,  the  second  session  of  the 
twelfth  congress  had  been  protracted  to  an  unusual  length, 
and,  ^m  finding  remohstrances  to  be  unavailing^  the  Presi- 
dent, on  tile  first  of  June,  181S,  laid  before,  the  two  houses 
i  detail  of  tiie  various  enormities  committed  against  this 
nation  by  ike  British  government,  and  the  officers  repre- 
senting it  Their  immediate  attention  was  required  to 
the  swmect,  as  it  was  thot^ht  necessary,  by  the  ^;reatest 
proportion  of  the  peophe,  that  such  encroacmng^  injuries, 
should  at  last  be  resisted  by  the  most  eflfectnal  means. 
Documents  being  in  possession  dT  the  eiecuttve,  which 
placed  tile  insulting  practices  of  the  British,  MaiiiBt  ^e 
commerce  and  national  honour  of  the  United  rates,  be- 
yond aH  doubt,  the  communication  set  forth, 

^  That  the  cruisers  of  that  nation  had  been  in  the  ban- 
"tiniEed  practice  of  violating  the  American  flag  on  the 
**  great  highway  of  natitms,  and  of  seizing  and  carrying 
f  off  persons  t»ailii%  under  it;  not  in  tiie  exercise  of  a  be^ 
<^ligerent  right,  founded  on  the  law  of  nation»— gainst 
^  an  enemy,  l»ut  of  a  municipal  prerogative  over  British 
*'sulMect8; 

<*That  they  had  been  in  the  practice  also  of  violating 
**  the  peace  and  the  rights  of  our  coasts,  by  hovering  over 
**  andliarassing  our  entering  and  departing  c(miinerce,  and 
wtiiat  to  tile  most  insulting  j^etensions  they  had  added 
*^  tiie  most  lawless  proceedings  in  our  very  harbours;  and 
*<  wantonly  spilt  American  blood  witidn  tne  sanctuary  of 
**  our  territorial  jurisdiction ; 

**  That  they  were  aiming  to  sacrifice  our  commercial  in- 
l^nterests,  tuiA  were  laying  waste  our  neutral  trade,  not  be- 
^  cause  we  supjftied  their  enemy,  but  Irjr  carrying  ^i  a  war 
faglunst  our  iriehdlv  commerce  that  they  might  them- 
"^selvos  pursue  an  intercourse  with  their  enemy; 

^  That  they  were  plunderinff  our  vessels  on  the  hig^ 
"seas  under  pretended  Uockades,  wHhout  the  necessary 
"presence  or  an  adequate  fwce to  maintain  them;  and 
'^  that  to  these  transcendent  acts  of  injustice  the  cabinet 


<Ur  THK  LATE  WAR. 


17 


"  of  Great  Britain  added  at  leagtK  the  mc€ifnn§^  mffitm  ^ 

*<  baeii  HMvldad  to  mk  ita  political  vicMQift.ita  oompiiraiil 
**  jeakMliea  or  thie  aftdiijr  Qt  Britiak  craitera;  r 

**  HMt  at  Hhe  vary  momeni  when  thair  f  lAlie  niaiaier 
<*  #as  holdiiig  tbe  ian^uago  of  friandaliip  and  'vmpmtm 
"  confidanoe  in  the  sincaiitjr  af  the  De^otiMlMii  wiS 
*'  which  he  was  ehaf|;ed,  a  secret  agent  oC  kft^OTafmnaiit 
**  was  employed  m  iatrigaes,  having  fbrthair  mi^%  a  mth 
"  Torsion  of  oar  governnieiit  and  a  d^sinembeirriMi&i  of  our 
**  anion; 

•  **  That  the  war&re  which  was  just  renewed  b^  the  sa^ 
**  Vases  on  oar  fimitaers,  which  sjiared  ne^b^r 
*'  and  was  distinouished  hy  fBataffeapeculiarlj^ 
**  humanity,  could  not  be  referred  to  without 
**  tbsir  hoatiUty  with  the  influence  of  BrUiali  traderaanc 
*^  garrisons,  nor  without  recdlecting  the  authenticalad  aa» 
**  amples  of  the  interpositions  of  the  officers  and  agpenia  of 
*^  that  govemmeni^    And, 

'  "Taut  In  fin^,  on  the  side  of  Qreat  Britain^  these  wiaa 
^ a  state  of  war  aoainst  the  United  States;  and  on  the 
*^  sicte  of  the  United  States  a  state  ^poace  towards  Gteat 
^^Sritain.^- -■-•  v -jj^v   -:.^    -■  v^^s.-^^' ,.•^:■- 

rTht  committee  of  foreign  relations,  fei  whom  Hds  mea« 
M^  was  referred,  reported  a  nianiiesto  to  the  house,  in 
wmch,  aller  recapitulating  these  i^evances,  they  raeomi' 
mended,  as  the  only  measure  to  prevent  fiiture  aggression, 
an  imme^ate  appeal  to  arms;  and  on  the  18th  day  of  June, 
an  act  was  passed,  declaring  war  against  the  kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  It^nd,  and  ^  deffendenciea  tiiereof, 
whidi  received  the  executive  sanction, 

A  small  army,  Gonttstiai|^  of  the  4th  regiment  of  infiui* 
try,  and  ^ree  re^ments  of  Ohio  vohinteers,  was  ardeeedy 
under  the  comin^iid  of  brigadier-general  Hull,  to  protect 
the  frontiers  against  tiie  incursions  of  the  savagea^  Aiier 
the  declaration  of  war,  this  £prce,  bmn^  nearest  to  tiie 
most  convenient  point  of  invasion,  was  directed  tor^^ 
to  the  town  of  Detroit,  von  the  river  of  that  name,  asid  op- 
posite Sandwich,  a  beautiful  and  extensive  vttlage  in  -Up* 
per  Canada. 

.  Cia  the  MAl  of  Julv,  aliter  a  tedious  and  fiitiguing  iiaiish 
of  thir^r4ve  days,  during  which  he  was  obliged  to  liBrii£|F 
lus  camp,  lit  evdf^  positioa  whaeh  ha^  oceupisd  at  night, 

B  2 


"^^ 
wt 


^WflP* 


^^^mmtm 


18 


HUTOBICAL  8KSTCBE9 


to  preTcntti  suiDrise  from  a  party  of  Indians,  who,  aided 
by  tile  BrUiiklHid  cloiKty  and  constantly  reconnoitred 
mnif  and  who  ib^  plannoa  an  attack  upon  Detroit,  whieh 
the  approach  <^  lut  army  frustrated,  oeneral  Htdl  ar- 
rived at  that  post  with  8,500  men.  He  had  no  sooner 
gpiisoned  the  American  shore  of  the  Detroit,  than  the 
Kitish  began  to  throw  up  breast-works,  and  to  erect  batp 
teries,  on  the  onposite  side.  The  first  of  these  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  w»r  direci^ed  fife  from  the  fort,  and  the  per- 
sons employed  at  it,  were  oUiffed  precipitately  to  retire; 
A  secopo,  which  was  situated  about  three  miles  below,  was 
destroyed  in  like  manner,  by  a  few  pieces  of  cannon  de- 
spatched for  that  purpose,  and  worked  with  so  much  skill, 
tmi|  ^  enemy  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  design,  of 
forafying  atthat  |»oint 

Active  preparations  were  now  making  for  an  immediate 
invasiea. of -Canada;  boats  of  lai*ge  capacity  were  con- 
structed! imd  the  passage  of  the  whole  army  was  to  be 
ef^ted  at  the  same  instant,  l^he  width  of  the  river 
being  favourable  to  the  crossing  of  the  troops,  either  above 
or  below  the  points  selected  to  oppose  their  Handing,  the 
enemy  was  aliowe<],  on  his  third  attempt,  to  erect  with«' 
oat  annoyance,  a  battery  of  seven  small  cannon,  and 
two  mor^urs.  These  arrangements  being  eifected,  the 
embarkation  took  place  on  me  IStb,  and  the  army  land- 
ing on  the  Canadian  shore,  above  the  fort,  entered  Sand- 
wich without  opposition.  Those  of  the  inhabitants,  yrh» 
had  not  been  compelled  to  repair  to  the  defence  of  Mai- 
den, were  witilout  arms,  and  therefore  made  no  show 
cf  resistance  to  the  Americans,  by  whom  they  were  ho-; 
aourably  respected  in  tiieir  propertv  and  pcrstms.  Pos- 
session was  liad,  in  a  few  days,  or  the  whole  country, 
from  the  nver  Thames,  or  la  IVancAe,  so  called  from 
tiie  evenness  and  beauty  of  its  bank,  to  a  rivulet,  within 
five  miles  of  Maiden,  whither  the  British  regulars,  and 
Canadian  militia,  with  a  great  number  of  Indians,  had 


J^or  to  the  occupation  df  Sai^wich,  however,  the  ette*^ 
my  had  removed  his  most  valuable  stores,  and  wtnlst  he 
was  throwing  up  breast-works,  and  appai^ntly  Iqrtifying 
that  "pla^  &T  defence,  the  largest  division  m  ^hb  troops 
was  employed  in  transporting  mem  to  Amherotbusg.     < 

If  genenl  AuU's  instrttctionsy  adimHld  of  his  striking^ 


or  TB&  LATE  WAR.  'y^'W' 

»  blow  immediatelj  on  hii  arrival  at  Detroit,  a  favourable 
opportunity  was  culpably  neglected.  Btf^  on  hearing  a 
propoeition  from  his  officers,  to  cross  tht  rhr^r  below;  to 
cut  off  the  communication,  between  the  two  divisions,  at 
Sandwich  and  Amherstbuiv;  and  suddenly  to  rush  upon, 
and  carry  fort  Maiden  by  storm;  he  alleg^  the  necessity 
of  waiting  for  positive  orders  for  the  invasion  of  Canada, 
before  he  could  embarii  his  troops  for  that  purpose.  Whilst 
the  force  at  Maiden,  was  weuiehed  by  the  employment 
of  the  men  at  Sandwich,  this  project  mi^t  have  been 
Carried  into  effect,  and  his  army,  besides  pnsoners,  would 
have  obtained  a  large  accession  of  stwes  and  ammunition. 
When  he  arrived  at  Sandwich,  the  British  army,  witji 
these,  and  othc  /  stores,  and  an  augmented  Indian  force, 
had  collected  at,  and  were  placing  Maiden  in  a  state  to 
sustain  a  siege.^To  attempt  tiie  reduction  of  that  garrison 
by  storm,  after  the  enemy  had  effected  this  concentration 
of  his  forces,  it  would  be  necessary  to  proKseed  against  it» 
with  a  train  of  battering  cannon,  and  ladders,  of  a  suffidint 
hei^t  and  number,  to  scale  tiie  walb  at  various  poiig^. 
The  American  army  had  neither  of  these,  at  that  time,  in 
readiness,  and  ite  operations  wehe  delayed  for  one  month, 
in  preparing  two  34-pounders  and  three  howitzers.^^  In  ^Ihis 
interval,'  such  advantages  were  guned,  as  result  (rOni 
subsisting  on  the  resources  of  the  enemy's  country,  and 
the  ciwtore  of  some  camp  articles,  and  a  small  supply  of 
arms,  Vk  reconnoitring  parties.  • 

Meanwhile,  tlie  Bntish  and  Indians  at  St.  Josephs,  had 
been  making  preparations  for  an  attack  on  fort  MichUi- 
maekiniuf,*  (a  position  on  an  island  of  that  name,  and 
within  general  Hull's  command)  and  on  the  I6tb,  four 
days  a&r  the  occupation  of  Sandwich,  byihe  tk-oops  of 
the  United  States^  tile  British  embarked  at  St.  Josephs, 
and  reached  the  island  early  on  the  following  mprmng. 
Their  force,  consisting  of  306  white  troops,  and  715  In- 
dians, was  command^l  by  captain  Roberts,  of  the  British 
regulars,  who  sent  in  a  prisoner  to  inform  the  commandimt; 
that  if  any  resistance  was  made,  the  garrkbn  and  inhabit- 
ante  would  be  indiscriminately  put  to  the  sword.  The  in- 
habitants knowing  that  the  fort  tiad  but  57  men  for  ite  de- 
fence, escaped  from  the  island,  or  delivered  themselves  to 

*  Pronounced— -Mackinaw. 


20 


UISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


Ml!' 


1 


the  tnetajt  in  ffreat  numbers;  but  many  of  them  had  no 
opportunity  to  do  either,  and  were  obl^d  to  remain,  and 
abide  the  issue  of  tiie  day.  The  commandant  of  the  gar-* 
rison,  lieutenant  Porter  Hanks,  of  the  artillery,  determined 
to  give  as  eallant  a  resistance  to  the  assailants  as  his  small 
force  would  allow  him.  -< 

The  island  of  MichiJUmackinae  is  about  nine  miles  in 
circumference.  It  is  separated  from  the  main  land  by  a 
strait  of  about  seven  miles  broad^  its  greatest  breadth  is 
tliree  miles,  and  its  elevation  above  the  lake,  on  its  high- 
est ground,  about  168  feet.  Two  square  stone  houses, 
united  by  a  stockade,  stand  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  which 
is  situated  on  a  bluff  rock  rising  from  the  water,  but  is 
entirely  overlooked  by  the  hi^  ground  at  the  distance  of 
600  yards.  The  island  itself  is  of  a  circular  form,  highest 
in  the  centre,  and  i^sembling  a  turtle's  back ;  from  which 
circumstance  it  is  said  to  have  taken  its  name— (JftcAf 2i- 
wuickinac,  or  the  Turtle). 

"Slie  er  emy  had  landed  on  the  back  part  of  the  island, 
and  urged  his  approach  within  cannon  shot  of  the  fort, 
w^ere  he  gained  the  eminence  commanding  it,  and  from 
which,  he  dir^ted  a  piece  of  heavy  cannon  against  its 
most  de^er.t;ele68  side.    The  Indians  were  arranged  on 
tiie  edge  of  an  adjoining  wood.    The  British  command- 
ant now  sent  a  fla^,  wim  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of 
^e  fort  and  island,  and  communicated  the  first  intelli- 
gence which  the  garrison  received,  of  the  declaration  of 
war.    The  movement  of  the  British  and  Indians,  had  been 
nn^  this  moment,  considered  as  one,  among  the  many 
<Nitrage8,  to  which  the  frontier  of  that  neighbouiliood  had 
been  exposed,  and  the  American  commandant  had  re- 
solved to  shut  himself  up,  and  defend  the  fortress  to  the 
very  last  extremity,  though  it  should  result  in  the  total 
annihilation  of  his  force.    But,  on  being  informed  of  the 
actual  state  of  hostilities,  he  was  aware,  that  if  he  held 
out,  the  enemy,  whose  present  number  could  not  be  ef- 
fectually opposed,  might  be  lately  reinfoixed,  and  that 
the  fall  of  the  garrison,  would  ^  followed  by  the  threat- 
ened indiscriminate  slaughter,  as  well  of  the  soldiers  com- 
{>08ine  it,  as  of  the  non-combatant  inhabitants  of  the 
sland.    The  only  measure,  which  could  save  them  from 
the  brutal  massacre  of  the  savages,  was  a  surrender  of 


■m 


hh 


OF  THE  LAT£  ^AR* 


fit 


the  fort  to  the  British,  and  lieutenant  Han|c8  vetj  pru- 
dently entered  in^o  terms  of  capitulation,  in  which  he 
secured  e  promise.'  protection  to  all  private  property, 
though  he  put  the  enemy  in  poj^ession  of  a  post,  suscep- 
tible of  bemg  rendered  the  strongest  in  America. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  loss  of  J^chilvmackimie, 
took  place  on  the  17th  of  July,  and  that  gene^  Hull,  al- 
ready apprised  of  the  war,  had  arrived  at  Detroit  oh  the 
5th — and  tlie  reader  will  jud^,  whetl^r  this  intelligeiice 
could  not  have  been  transmitted  to  JfKchilinuickinac,  a 
distance  of  254  miles,  and  whether  that  post  ou^t  hot  to 
have^been  immediately  reinforced.  The  enemy  had  know- 
ledge of  the  existence  qf  hostilities,  through  the  activity  of 
persons  concerned  iu  the  Northwest  Fur  Company;  nii^e 
days  before  the  arrival  of  the  American  disposables,  whilst 
the  American  garrison  was  suffered  to  remain  in  i^orance 
twelve  days  afi;er — and  to  the  vigilance  of  one  side,  alld 
the  tardiness,  or  neslisence  of  uie  other,  this  disaster  is 
certainly  to  be  ascribed. 

Preparations  were  still  going  on  at  Sandwich,  for  an 
attempt  on  Maiden,  when  me  troops  were  informed  of  the 
afl^r  at  MichilimaeJcinac,  by  the  capture  of  two  vefisfils. 
in  which  the  priscmers  taken  there,  had  been  embarked. 
Vnle^  the  contemplated  attack  on  Maiden,  should  result 
iii  the  success  of  the  American  arms,  the  situation  of  the 
tro^s  would  become  critical  in  the  extreme;  the  posses- 
sion of  Michilinuickinac  *^ve  to  the  enemy  many  de- 
cided advantages,  and  if  the  captiire  of  that  post  was  fol- 
lowed up  by  an  assault  on  fort,  Chica^Ot  all  the  fortified 
stations  west  of  Detroit,  would  be  in  his  hands,  and  tiie 
whole  of  his  Indian  forces  might  be  thrown  upon  that 
frontier.  Detroit  would  he  an  easy  conquest,  and  tiie 
American  army  might  be  so  encompassed,  that  its  retreat 
would  be  impossilue.  The  Indians  from  the  shwes  of 
the  northwestern  lakes,  were  already  released  froqi  con- 
straint, and  the  British  commander  was  collecting  lai^ 
bodies  of  them,  to  move  down  upon  Detroit,  and  the  in- 
termediate garrisons.  Depending  on  the  arrival  of  rein- 
forcements, however,  for  which,  in  anticipation  of  these 
events,  eeneral  Hull  had  despatched  numerous  expresses; 
and  being  assured  of  the  importance  of  the  occupation  of 
Amherstbui^,  he  remained  at  Sandwich,  carrying  on  an 


itiL 


III9T08ICAX  SKETCHES 


"!i 


excursive  war  by  small  parties^  and  reconnoitring  the  ene-* 
ray's  outposts  with  incessant  vigilance. 

Colonel  Cass,  of  the  3d  regiment  of  Chio  volunteers, 
was  ordered,  ^th  a  detachment  of  280  men,  to  recon- 
noitre an  advanced  post  of  tiie  etiemy  upon  a  long  bridge, 
crossing  La  Rimere  Jinx  Canairds,  of  the  river  of  me 
Ducks,  about  four  miles  from  fort  Maiden.  A  company 
of  riflemen,  commanded  by  captain  Robinson,  was  con- 
cealed near  the  bridge,  vrim  directions  to  fire  upon,  and  ' 
divert  the  attention  of  the  guard  stationed  upon  i^  as  soon 
as  the  remaining  part  of  the  detacF  ment  should  be  seen 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river^  which  was  intended  to 
be  fordea  about  five  miles  below.  An  unlooked  for  dif- 
ficulty at  the  ford,  caused  so  much  delay  in  the  move- 
ment of  the  detachment,  that  it  did  not  appear  at  the 
appointed  ground  until  sunset,  when,  having  marched  with- 
01^  a  guide,  too  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  its  prepress 
was  wstructed  by  a  tributary  creek;  to  pass  this,  a  march 
of  another  n^ile  was  necessary,  and  time  was  consequent- 
ly allowed  for  the  enemy  to  prepare  for  his  defence.  On 
coming  down  the  creek,  colonel  Cass  found  the  British 
already  formed,  uud  received  from  them  a  distant  nre  of 
musketry.  The  detachment  moved  pn,  however,  in  ^ood 
order  and  with  great  spirit  and  alacrity.  The  British, 
who  had  been  reinforced,  at  intervals,  during  the  whole 
afternoon,  and  whose  number  was  made  up  of  the  41st 
regiment,  and  some  Indians,  made  several  other  attempts 
to  fire,  but  were  as  often  compelled  to  retreat,  tlie  de- 
tachment continuing  to  move  on,  regardless  of  their  oppo- 
sition. They  were  driven  more  than  half  a  mi^e,  when  ~ 
the  darkness  of  the  night  made  further  pursuit  hazardous, 
and  colonel  Cass  was  content  to  possess  the  bridge  and 
some  adjmning  houses,  until  morning,  when,  after  recon- 
noitring the  neighbourhood,  and  not  finding  the,  enemy,  he 
commenced  his  return  to  the  camp,  at  Sandwich.  Mo  ac- 
cumte  information  could  be  obtained  of  the  force  opposed 
to  tl^  detachment,  but  the  loss  of  the  enemy,  was  reports 
ed  by  deserters,  at  eleven  killed  and  wounded.  The  de- 
tachment lost  not  a  single  man.  The  bridge  was  after- 
wards fortified  by  the  British,  with  six  pieces  of  artillery, 
bit  this  being  deemed  insufficient  for  its  defence,  they 
removed  both  bridge  and  battery,  and  planted  their  pannon 


^T  THB  LATE  WAK. 


23 


behind  a  breastwoi^  constructed  fixmi  the  timber  of  the 
former. 

Three  ^ys  .after  (19th  July)  colonel  M'Arthur,  with 
150  men  from  his  own  re^ment  (Cttiio  volunteers)  oi>  re* 
lieving  a  detachment  which  was  out,  proceeded  to  the 
reconnoitring  ground  of  colonel  Cass,  whence  he  dis- 
covered the  enemy — 85  regulars,  40  Indians,  and  150 
militia,  protected  by  this  battery.  The  Queen  Charlotte 
of  20  guns  being  at  the  same  time  -anchored  in  Detroit 
river,  at  the  mouth  of  ^ux  Canards,  with  a  gun  boat 
cruising  about  her.  The  firing  was  kept  up  nearly ^ 
an  hour  between  the  battery,  and  a  few  riflemen  in  «t> 
vance  of  the  troops,  but  at  too  great  a  distance  to  have 
effect,  whilst  M'Arthur  was  examining  the  Queen  Char- 
lotte. ^ 

On  finding  the  enemy  so  well  protected  by  the  battery, 
the  riflemen  were  ordered  to  retire  to  the  detachment^ 
but  M'Arthur^  desire  to  ascertain  the  true  situation  of 
the  enemy,  induced  him  to  go  near  the  broken  bridge 
witha^lass.  He  discovered  that  the  Indians  had  prin- 
cipally left  the  battery,  and  almost  at  the  same  instant* 
was  informed  by  a  messenger  frmn  the  detachment,  that 
a  number  of  them  were  seen  piassing  tQ  a  rOad  in  its  rear* 
He  was  now  attended  by  Dr.  M'Anaw  and  caption  Fnthtiff« 
who,  on  turning  "dieir  horses  to  ride  with  him  to  the  de- 
tachment, were  fired  upon  by  about  thirty  Indiaairi,  from 
their  concealment  in  a  brush,  at  the  distance  of  only  100 
yards.  They  escaped,  however,  without  being  hurt,  and 
colonel  M'Artfiur,  immediately  after  led  his  men  to  the 
pursuit  of  the  Indians  and  drove  them  across  Jlux  Canards 
to  the  battery,  between  the  detachment  and  which,  the 
fire  was  kept  up,  at  long  shot,  for  three  hours,  without 
other  injury  to  tne  Amencans,  than  the  wounding  of  two 
men,  though  several  broadsides  had  been  dkchsirged  from 
the  Queen  Charlotte. 

The  chief,  TecMWwe^,  celebrated  for  his  dexterity  with 
the  tom-hawk  and  rifle,  not  less  than  for  kis  relentless 
cruelty  in  the  use  of  ti\em,  i^inst  the  inhalntaitts  fX  ^ 
frontier,  was  at  the  head  of  the  Iiutians.  The  «scape, 
therefore,  of  M'Arthur  and  his  companions  from  a  istwfp 
of  savages,  trained  and  commanded  oy  such  a  warrior  as 
Tecumseht  was  truly  miraculous.  It  was  no  less  fortu- 
nate, that  the  detachment  bravely  moved  up,  at  the  report 


"Ifl!^,: 


34 


Uip^q^M^AL  S^TG||£S 


of  ^e  fire  of  the  XncKimus,  ami  put  them  to  immediate 
fli^t.  M'Artiiur  encamped  for  ike  night  within  two  miles 
oiJiux  Vmords,  aiid,  on  the  fallowing  morning,  returned 
to  the  army»  with  colonel  Cass,  and  100  men,  by  whomhe 
was  then  joined. 

.^  jBetween,  tins  time  and  ^e '  beginning;  of  August,  no 
event  took  pUce«  which  couI4  aflfonl  the  American  troops 
an  oppOrtuni^  of  displaying  their  true  character.    Tne 
inclenientey  of  the  weather  wa|t  very  unfavourable  to  the 
operations  of  an  a^tny.  .Sudden  transitions  from  extreme 
h^i^  to  intense  cold,  foUowed  t^  violent  storms  of  rain 
and.  ha^, :  rendered  them  both  sickly  and  discontented. 
ISiey  had  been  all  enamoured  of  an  expedition,  which 
promised  ttiem  so  much  honoiir  and  renown,  and  when 
tlMBV  landed  ooi  the  Canadian  shore,  tiiey  were  filled  with 
i^uch  assur^nc^  of  conquest,  as  made  their  impatience 
for  achievement  almost  unffoverpable.     The  tardiness, 
which  now  seemed  insepfU'abTe  from  the  conduct  of  their 
commander,  dispirited  them,  and  destroyed  whatever  of 
confidence  tthey  might  have  reposed  in  hun  before.    The 
result  of  a  poun^il  of  war,  however,  which  it  was  found 
necessary  to  convoke,  revived  all  their  desires,  and  a  spirit, 
no  less  active  than  that  With  which  they  nad  set  out, 
pervaded  the  whole  ebca^pment    In  two  days  mwe,  \^ 
proper  exertio]as>  every  arrangement  would  m  completed 
fgr  tiie  investment  o(  fort  lifalden.    At  the  end  of  that 
.time  tile  heavy  cannon  might  be  ready;  if  they  should 
not,  the  couiicil  recommended  an  attempt  with  the  bay- 
onet.   The  British  garrison  had  been  weakened  by  con- 
stant desertion^  of  the  embodi^  Canadian  militia,  and 
a  vi^irous  attack  upon  it,  however  jgallant  the  defence, 
cou3  not  but  be  attended  with  ultimate  success.    The 
deliberations  of  the  council  corresponded  with  the  opinions 
of  th§  General,  and  the  day  was  appointed  on  which  the 
assault  was  to  take  place. '  The  cannon  were  well  mount- 
ed, and  embarked  on  floating  batteries;  the  amniunition 
was  already  placed  in  wagons  provided  for  its  convey- 
ance; the  troops  were  aniinated  by  the  prospect  of  a  com- 
bat, and  not  at  all  doubtfiil  of  a  certain  and  brilliant 
victory. 

A  company  of  volunteers  fi'om  Ohio,  under  command 
of  captain  Brush,  had  arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  with  a 
quantity  of  provisions  for  the  army.    Although  the  troops 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


^i. 


were  already  supplied  for  many  days,  these  provisions 
might  be  necessary  in  the  event  of  conquest.  The  distance 
from  Detroit,  to  the  point  at  which  they  had  arrived,  was 
thirty-six  miles,  and  their  march  was  liable  to  be  inter- 
cepted by  scouting  pai-ties  from  the  enemy.  Major  Van- 
horne  was  therefore  despatched,  with  150  men,  to  meet 
and  escort  them  to  their  destination.  He  had  nearly 
reached  Brownsto*vn,  on  his  second  day's  march,  when  he 
\yas  attacked  in  front,  and  on  both  flanks,  by  a  very  supe- 
rior force  of  regulars  and  Indians.  A  waim  engagement 
followed;  to  the  Americans  the  odds  were  fearful,  but, 
after  an  obstinate  resistance,  they  succeeded  in  makil^  an 
orderly  retreat  with  the  loss  of  19  killed  and  missins,  and 
9  wounded. — Among  the  former  were  captains  MCmlocb, 
Bostler,  and  Gilcrease,  who  fought  with  that  gallantry, 
which  has  never  failed  to  distinguish  ihe  citizens  of  the 
state  to  which  they  belonged;  among  the  latter  was  cap- 
tain Ulry,  since  dead,  whose  conduct  was  not  less  noble 
than  that  of  his  companions. 

Major  Vanliorne  had  scarcely  been  sent  from  Sandwich, 
when  a  change  of  measures  was  adopted  by  the  oeneral, 
in  opposition  to  the  wishes  and  intreaties  of  all  bis  offi- 
cers. The  enterprise  against  Maiden  was  abandoned,  and 
he  announced  his  determination  of  evacuating  Canada, 
and  ofposting  himself  at  fort  Detroit.  The  promulgation 
of  his  intentions,  was  attended  by  an  order  to  break  up  the 
encampment,  and  to  recross  the  river  in  the  night  Con- 
sternation and  dismay  were  visible  in  the  countenance  of 
every  soldier;  their  confidence  was  destroyed,  and  they  con- 
sidered their  commander  to  be  timid  and  irresolute.  The 
presence  of  their  own  officers,  on  whose  capabilities  they 
amplicitly  relied,  was  scarcely  sufficient  to  prevent  one 
universal  burst  of  indignation.  Reluctantly,  and  ^vith  much 
murmuring,  they  obeyed  the  order;  and  at  daybreak  of  Uie 
morning  of  the  8th,  found  themselves  garrisoned  at  De- 
troit Here  the  intelligence  of  the  late  skirmish  was  re- 
ceived. 

The  communication,  which  had  been  opened  by  the  ahny, 
between  Raisin  and  their  present  post,  was  shut  up  by 
the  savages.  It  was  indispensably  necessary  that  it  should 
be  again  opened,  or  the  provisions  at  that  river  could  never 
reach  the  garrison,  which  would  eventually  be  m  want  of 
subsistence. 

C 


J 


d6 


HI8T0BICAI.  SKETCHES 


I 


To  Beateiumt  colonel  James  Miller,  the  command  of  a 
strong  detachment  was  for  this  purpose  assigned.  He  im- 
mediacy took  up  his  line  of  march  with  200  regulars,  and 
200  mUitia,  the  regulars  being  of  the  fouHh  re^ment.  The 
British  Indians,  anticipated  the  return  of  the  detachment 
which  they  had  driven  back,  and  calculated  that  it  would 
be  hu^ly  reinforced.  Their  own  body  was  therefore 
increased  to  a  number,  competent,  as  they  supposed,  to 
drive  off,  or  peiiiaps  to  capture  them.  They  were  700 
stroi^,  and  mi^t  be  reinforced  during  an  engagement, 
from  Maiden,  opposite  to  which  was  the  village  of  Browns- 
town;  which  they  had  taken  possession  of  a  few  days  be- 
fore. They  fortified  the  ground  at  a<place  called  Magtuiga, 
RBsalf  four  miles  from  Brownstown,  by  felling  trees  and 
erecluig  breastworks.  Behind  these,  they  intended  to  con- 
ceal themselves,  until  the  Americans  should  attain  the 
point,  at  which  they  might  deal  out  to  them  what  measure 
^  destruction  they  pleased.  Ttie  Indians  were  commanded 
by  their  great  leader,  Tecumseh^  the  united  force  by  ma« 
jdr  Muir,  of  the  British  army. 

On  the  9th,  the  American  troops,  though  they  proceeded 
with  great  caution,  reached  the  ground  on  which  the  ene- 
my desired  to  see  them,  before  mey  discovered  their  am- 
buscade. Captain  Snelling,  commanding  the  advance,  was 
attacked  from  it,  and  sustained  a  combat  until  the  main 
body  came  up,  when  ^e  British  and  Indians  sprang  sud- 
denly from  behind  the  works,  formed  a  line  of  battle  with 
great  celerity,  and  corhmenced  a  brisk  fire,  accompanied 
with  all  the  demonstrations  of  savage  war.  Sudden  and 
anexpected  as  was  the  attack,  the  intrepid  commander  of 
^e  American  force  was  not  the  least  dismayed;  his  troops 
received  the  shock  without  shrinking;  and  with  a  coolness 
and  sagacity,  which  are  commonly  looked  for  only  in  sol- 
diers of  long  experience,  he  as  suddenly  drew  up  his  men, 
and  after  a  rapid  fire,  charged  upon  tlo^  enemy  with  such 
unusual  firmness,  as  to  throw  them  into  complete  disor- 
der.^ The  obstinacy  of  the  Indians,  however,  would  not 
#  ait  of  fl^ht;  they  were  not  compelled,  by  the  restraints 
V  "^egular  discipline,  to  act  in  concert  with  the  British,  and 
f tin  •ting  to  their  own  kind  of  combat,  they  were  resolved 
Bot  to  abandon  the  contest  But  the  Bri^sh  had  now  re- 
covered from  their  confusion,  and  a  scene  of  indescribable; 


OP  THE  I.ATE  WAB. 


«r 


hoitor  ensued.  Uniting  with  500  Indians,  who  were  almoaC 
naked,  havingi  their  bodies  painted  in  a  fririitfii)  mannei^ 
and  uttering  their  usual  dreadftil  shouts,  mey  fiwght  on 
every  side  of  the  American  detachment;  on  erery  side 
they  were  gallantly  repulsed.  Means  like  these  could  nc^ 
induce  tiiese  brave  men  to  forsake  their  standard,  or  to 
disgrace  their  nation.  They  saw  daneer  strengthenine 
around  them,  they  knew  wnat  kind  of  destiny  awaited 
their  defeat,  and  they  were  resolutely  determined  to  repel 
the  foe,  or  to  yield  only  with  their  lives.  Colonel  Miller 
found  himself  contending  against  a  force,  more  than  one 
third  superior  to  his  own,  but  he  was  animated  by  the 
same  spirit,  which  influenced  his  men.  Over  such  men, 
headed  by  such  a  commahder,  the  enemy  could  not  hope 
to  be  victorious.  The  firmness  of  the  Americans  had  that 
eflfect  upon  the  British  and  Indians,  which  it  was  intended 
their  savage  nmses  should  produce  on  them.  They  found 
that  they  riad  not  errors  to  resort  to,  which  could  attau 
their  end,  and  they  began  from  necessily  to  give  ground. 
The  obstinacy  of  me  dco.iAchment,  was  equal  to  the  deter- 
mined character  of  the  Indians,  and  the  latter  became  first 
intimidated.  The  utiited  forces  were  driven,  inch  by  inch, 
into  Brownstown;  and  would  have  been  beaten  into  sub> 
mission*  had  not  a  squadron  of  boats  been  ready  to  receive 
them,  at  that  place.  They  made  as  rapid  a  retreat  across 
the  river,  as  tneir  oarsmen  could  effect,  and  returned  to 
Maiden  with  an  inferior  force,  to  that  witii  which  they  had 
left  it  Their  loss  was,  in  regulars,  7  killed  and  wounded; 
of  the  Indians  they  left  nearly  100  on  the  field.  In  the 
stout  contest,  whicn  the  detachment  kept  up  for  more  than 
two  hours,  there  were  15  killed,  and  between  30  and  40 
wounded.  The  officers  who  principally  distinguished  them- 
selves, were  captain  Baker,  lieutenants  Larabee  and  Pe- 
ters, and  ensign  Whistler,  The  first  of  these  was  shot 
three  different  times  during  the  battle;  the  second  lost  his 
left  arm ;  and  the  two  last  were  also  wounded.  Colonel 
Miller  remained  at  Brownstown  until  the  meridian  of  the 
next  day,  when  he  received  orders  to  return  to  Detroit 
The  troops  were  exhausted  by  so  vigorous  an  engagement, 
and  they  would  have  been  unable  to  proceed  further.  A 
fresh  detachment  would  probably  be  sent  upon  the  same 
expedition;  and  colonel  Miller,  knowing  how  necessary  it 


^& 


HISTORICDC.  SKETCHES 


was^  that  his  men  should  be  refreshed,  was  not  averse  from 
this  order. 

Captain  Brush  was  still  waiting  at  the  river  Raisin  for 
an  escort,  when  he  received  orders  to  remain  at  that  place, 
and  defend  himself  there,  or  to  proceed  by  a  route,  on  an 
uppfer  road,  crossing  the  river  Huron.  Colonels  Cass  and 
M*Arthur  were  despatched,  on  the  evening  of  the  14tli, 
with  SOO  men,  to  assist  in  the  transportation  of  the  pro- 
visions, on  that  route. 

On  the  same  day  on  which  the  victory  at  Maguaga  was 
achieved,  captain  Heald,  tiie  commandant  ait  foH;  Chicago, 
since  called  fort  Dearborn,  received  orders  immediately 
to  abandon  that  place.  Accordingly,  on  the  fifteenth, 
after,  delivering  to  the  friendly  Indians,  in  conformity  to 
his  instructions,  all  the  goods  in  the  factory,  and  such 
provisions  as  could  not  be  taken  away,  and  destroying 
the  surplus  arms  and  ammunition,  he  commenced  his 
march  with  54  regulars,  and  12  militia,  the  whole  amount 
of  his  force*  and  was  escorted  by  captain  Wells,  of  fort 
Wayne,  and  a  few  friendly  Indians  of  the  Miami  tribe, 
dent  thither  for  that  purpose.  As  the  place  would  now 
be  defenceless,  the  inhaDitants,  principally  women  and 
Childr«n,  were  directed  to  accompany  the  troops.  The 
little  party  had  not  proceeded  more  than  one  mile  and 
an  half,  between  a  hi^  sand-bank,  and  the  lake,  when  it 
was  discovered  that  a  number  of  hostile  Indians  were 
preparing  to  attack  them,  from  behind  the  bank.  Captain 
.Heald  immediately  ordered  his  company  to  ascend  it; 
and  they  had  scarcely  done  so,  when  an  action  com- 
menced, in  which,  after  firing  one  round,  and  charging 
with  great  velocity,  upon  the  Indians,  the  latter  were 
obliged  to  give  way  in  front,  but  joining  the  party  on  the 
American  flanks,  they  kept  up  their  fire,  and  got  posses- 
sion of  all  the  horses,  provisions  and  ba^age,  of  every 
description.  The  friendly  Indians  stantiing  aloof,  re- 
fusing to  take  part  in  the  contest,  and  apparently  waiting 
the  issue,  that  they  might  determine  on  which  side  to 
belong,  made  it  necessary  for  captain  Heald  to  draw  off 
his  few  men,  and  take  possession  of  a  small  elevation,  in 
an  open  prairie,  out  of  reach  of  shot,  from  the  bank,  or 
any  other  cover.  Here  he  received  an  offer  of  protec- 
tion, from  an  Indian  chie^  on  condition  of  his  surrender: 


OF  THE  LATE  WAS. 


29 


which,  without  much  reliance  on  its  faith,  he  accepted, 
because  of  the  ^eat  disparity  of  force,  the  Indian 
warriors  amounting  to  nearly  500.  Their  loss  was 
about  15.  Of  Hie  Americans,  16  regulars,  and  all 
the  militia  were  killed:  amons  them,  captain  Wells 
and  ensi^  George  Roman,  bom  officers  of  great  oA- 
lantry.  Two  women,  and  twelve  children  were  uso 
killed.  The  Indians  had  it  now  in  their  power,  to  move 
to  any  part  of  the  country,  through  which  the  communi- 
cation had  been  formed  between  the  river  Raisin  and 
Detroit,  and  numbers  of  them  were  accordingly  posted 
at  several  points  on  that  road,  whilst  a  stronger  party  pro^ 
ceeded  against  fort  Wayne.  Their  absence  was.  taken 
advantage  of  by  captain  Heald,  whom  they  had  taken  to 
the  mouth  of  St  Joseph's,  and  who  now,  vrith  his  lady, 
procured  a  conveyance  to  Michilimaekinac,  where  he 
was  received  politely  by  the  commandant,  captain  Ro- 
berts. Mrs.  tieahl  was  wounded  by  six  shot— 4he  captain 
by  two. 

Any  attempt  to  accelerate  the  transportation  of  the 
provisions,  would  now  be  useless,  for  on  the  tiiirt^nth, 
the  British  had  taken  a  position  opposite  Detroit  They 
were  occupied  in  throwing  up  breastworks,  during  that 
and  the  two  following  days;  at  the  end  of  which  time  they 
had  completed  a  battery  of  two  eighteen  pounders,  and 
an  eight  inch  howitzer,  without  any  interruption  from  the 
American  fort  Major  Denny,  of  the  volunteers,  who 
had  been  left  in  samson  at  Sandwich,  with  250  infantry, 
and  a  corps  of  artillerists,  was  obliged,  on  theil*  approach^  to 
make  his  retreat  across  the  river.  This  he  effecteoi  in  good 
order. 

On  the  fifteenth,  a  flag  of  truce  was  received  from  ike 
British,  with  a  summons,  demanding  the  immediate  sur- 
render of  the  garrison;  to  which  it  was  returned  fOT  an- 
swer, that  the  "  town  and  fwt  would  be  defended  to  tiie 
last  extremity.**  The  British  then  opened  their  batteries 
upon  the  town,  and  continued  to  throw  their  shells  into  <he 
fort,  from  four  o'clock  until  midnight  The  fire  was  re- 
turned until  dark  with  little  eifect  At  daylight  the  next 
morning,  tlie  firing  again  commenced,  \riuist  the  British, 
under  the  protection  of  tiieir  ships,  were  landing  their 
forces  at  Spring  Wells.  At  about  ten  o^clock  they  proceed- 

C2  ,    . 


30 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


ed  in  a  close  column,  twelve  in  front,  along  the  bank  of  t!ie 
river  towards  the  fort. 

From  fort  Detroit  the  enemy  could  not  have  been  pre- 
vented from  landing:,  had  he  attempted  it,  even  in  its 
more  immediate  vicinity.  Its  situation  had  been  origi- 
n^ly  chosen  without  skill;  the  town  actually  standing 
between  it  and  the  river,  and  the  foot  of  the  scarp  being 
more  than  two  hundred  rods  from  it.  On  the  evening 
of  the  fiifteenth  it  was  therefore  suggested  to  general 
Hull,  that  the  British  should  be  opposed  on  the  margin  < 
of  the  river;  that  there  was  a  position  at  that  point, 
whence  they  could  be  destroyed,  with  the  utmost  cer- 
tainty, as  rast  as  they  could,  land;  and  that  a  strong 
battery,  well  manned  there,  would  be  a  better  security 
than  the  fort  of  Detroit.  The  suggestions  of  general  Hull** 
officers  were  too  often  disregarded.  The  enemy  had 
now  landed,  and  no  obstruction  could  prevent  His  ap- 
proach, until  he  should  be  either  in  the  rear  of  the  town, 
or  of  ttie  fort,  when  all  the  strength  of  the  latter  might 
be  successfully  brought  against  him.  The  fourth  regi- 
ment was  stationed  within  the  fort;  the  Ohio  volunteei-s, 
and  part  of  the  Michigan  militia,  behind  picquets,  from 
wMch  the  enemy's  whole  flank  could  be  annoyed;  the 
residue  of  the  militia  were  in  the  town,  to  resist  the  In- 
dians ;  and  two'twenty-four  pounders,  loaded  with  grape 
shot,  were  posted  on  an  eminence,  from  which,  they 
could  sweep  the  advancing  column.  The  superiority  of 
position  was  apparent  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  and 
their  force  at  least  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy.  They 
had  four  hundred  rounds  of  twenty-four  pound  shot, 
already  fixed,  and  about  one  hundred  thousand  cartridges 
made.  Their  provisions  were  sufficient  for  fifteen  days, 
and  every  man  of  them,  awaited  the  approach  of  the  ene- 
my with  full  and  eager  expectation  of  victoiy.  The  head 
of  the  column  had  advanced  within  five  hundred  yards 
of  the  American  line,  when  general  Hull  ordered  the  troops 
to  retreat  to  the  fort,  and  not  by  any  means  to  open  the 
twenty-four  pounders  upon  the  enemy.  The  feelmgs  of 
the  soldiers  were  not  now  to  be  restrained,  as  they  had 
been  a  few  days  before  at  Sandwich.  Indignation  at  the 
conduct,  and  contempt  for  the  capacity,  of  me  command- 


city. 


ing  general,  could  no  longer  be  aisguised,  and  they  loud 


OF  THE  lATE  WA». 


SI 


lops 

;fie 

of 

lad 

the 


ly  uttered  tlicir  discontent  They  entered  the  fort,  how- 
ever, which,  though  crowded  so  that  any  movement  was 
impracticable,  was  scarcely  capable  of  containing  them. 
Here  they  were  directed  to  stack  their  arms,  and  they 
had  the  mortification  to  see  liie  flag  of  their  country 
struck  to  the  invaders,  and  the  fort  suri-endered  without 
the  dischai^e  of  a  single  gun.  A  white  flag  was  sus- 
pended from  its  walls,  and  such  was  the  astonishment, 
even  of  the  enemy's  troops,  that  a  British  officer  rode 
up,  to  ascertain  its  meaning.  It  was  the  first  instance, 
perhaps,  which  they  had  ever  known,  of  the  surrender  of 
a  military  post,  without  a  previous  arrangement  of  the 
terms ;  and  they  had  little  expectation  of  so  tame  a  sub- 
mission. Those  brave  troops,  who  had  but  eidit  days 
before  beaten,  and  put  this  same  enemy  to  flijpit,  were 
now  obliged  to  march  out  in  review,  and  lay  down  their 
arms  to  inferior  numbers,  who  had  done  no  other  thing 
towards  the  capture  of  the  garrison,  than  showing  'them- 
selves before  it. 

Not  only  the  heroes  of  IJro^vnstown,  but  the  detach- 
ments then  absent  from  the  fort,  the  volunteers  and  all 
the  provisions  at  Raisin,  and  those  of  no  incons>iderable 
amount,  the  fortified  posts  and  garrisons,  and  the  whole 
territory  and  inhabitants  of  Michigan,  were  delivered 
over  by  capitulation,  to  the  commanding  general  of  the 
British  forces.  Forty  barrels  of  powder,  two  thousand 
five  hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  an  armament,  (consist- 
ing of  twenty-five  iron,  and  eight  brass  pieces  of  ord- 
nance) the  greater  part  of  which  had  been  captured  from 
the  British  in  the  revolutionary  war,  were  surrendered 
with  them. 

The  detachment  which  had  been  sent  out  under  colo- 
nels Cass  and  M*Arthur,  had  received  orders  the  night 
before  to  return ;  but  when  they  arrived  within  sight  6f 
Detroit,  before  which  the  enemy  was  already  stationed, 
it  became  necessary  to  use  excessive  caution  in  their 
nearer  approach.  They  were  accidentally  thrown  into 
a  situation,  the  best  for  annoying  and  cutting  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  enemy,  which  could  possibly  be  selected ; 
and  if  they  had  heard  any  firing,  or  seen  any  indication 
of  an  engagement,  they  might  have  attacked  the  rear  of 
the  column,  and  placed  the  enemy's  raw  troops,  between 


32 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


their  own  fire  and  that  of  the  fort  They  could  not  ima- 
gine  what  measures  were  in  operation,  when  an  uninter- 
rupted silence  prevailed  between  two  hostile  armies,  with- 
in fighting  distance  of  each  other ;  the  arrangement  for  a 
surrender,  was  the  last  among  their  surmises,  because  they 
knew  that  the  garrison  was  superior  to  any  force  which 
could  then  be  brought  against  it.  Their  doubts  were  re- 
lieved by  a  message  from  general  Hull,  to  the  following 
effect:  "  I  have  signed  articles  of  capitulation  for  the  sur- 
"  render  of  this  garrison,  in  which  you  and  your  detach- 
**  ment  are  prisoners  of  war.  Such  part  of  the  Ohio  mi- 
**  litia  as  have  not  joined  the  armj,  will  be  peiinitted  to 
"  return  to  their  homes,  on  condition  that  tney  will  not 
"  serve  during  the  war.  Their  arms,  however,  will  be 
"  given  up,  if  belonging  to  the  public.**  This  despatch 
was  forwarded  by  colonel  M'Arthur,  to  captain  Brush. 
The  volunteers  and  militia  returned  to  their  respective 
homes;  but  eeneral  Hull,  and  the  fourth  rejE^ment,  and 
part  of  the  nrst,  were  taken  to  Montreal,  whence  they 
were  destined  for  Quebec.  G-jneral  Brock  issued  his  pro- 
clamation, announcing  to  the  inhabitants  of  Michigan,  the 
cession  of  that  territory  to  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  ma- 
jesty, and  establishing  regulations  for  its  civil  govern- 
ment. The  capitulation  of  an  immense  territory,  and  the 
surrender  of  tne  whole  northwestern  army  which  was 
composed  of  men,  feelingly  alive  to  the  honour  of  their 
country;  ambitious  of  distinguishing  themselves  in  arms; 
and  most  of  whom  had  left  their  families,  and  their  friends, 
to  encounter  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  long  campaign; 
excited  a  sensation  among  the  people,  from  one  extremity  of 
the  country  to  the  other,  not  less  indignant,  than  that  which 
was  felt  by  the  troops  ti^jpmselves.  When  gene.al  Brock 
said,  tliat  the  force  at  his  disposal  authorized  him  to  require 
the  surrender,  he  piust  have  had  a  very  exalted  opinion  of 
the  prowess  of  his  own  soldiers,  or  a  very  mistaken  one 
of  the  ability  of  those,  who  were  commanded  by  the  Ame- 
rican general.  The  force  at  his  disposal  was  inferior  to 
the  garrison  of  Detroit,  even  in  the  absence  of  the  de- 
tachments. In  a  letter  to  sir  George  Prevost,  he  states 
the  American  force  at  2,500 — ^which,  however,  could  not 
be  correct,  as  it  had  met  with  losses  in  the  different  skir- 
mishes— and  his  own  at  600  white  troops,  and  600  In- 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


33 


tlians.  By  the  return  of  his  quartef-master-ceneral,  it 
consisted  of,  British  regulars,  infantry  and  artillery,  382 ; 
Indians,  principally  Chipaways,  Hurons,  and  Potawato- 
mies,  650;  Militia,  in  regular  uniform,  362;  Total,  1394. 
Of  these,  few  of  the  Indians  were  visible,  as  they  generally 
skulked  in  the  woods,  and  did  not  advance  upon  the  fort 
with  the  British  column.  The  force  of  general  Hull's 
arniy,  by  the  morning  report,  was  1060,  exclusive  of  the 
detachment  of  350  men,  and  300  Michigan  militia,  then 
out  on  duty,  which  would  have  made  iflO ;  superior  to 
the  enemy  by  316.  On  the  arrival  of  captain  Brush  from 
Raisin,  his  total  force  would  have  amounted  to  more 
than  1860. 

Had  the  troops  remained  at  Sandwich  until  the  provi- 
sions were  brought  on,  the  surrender  of  this  force  to  a  body 
of  troops  thus  inferior  in  number,  would  have  been  pre- 
vented. The  British  did  not  appear  at  that  place  until 
they  had  heard  of  its  evacuation ;  they  were  induced  to 
follow  up  the  American  army,  because  of  its  abrupt  depar- 
ture from  the  Canadian  shore;  and  it  has  been  matter  of 
conjecture,  whether  general  Hull's  conduct  was  the  result 
of  cowardice,  or  perfidy.  In  his  official  despatches  to  the 
government,  he  attempted  to  defend  his  conduct,  upon 
grounds,  with  which  mey  were  not  satisfied — and  whi^h 
could  not  be  proved  before  the  court  martial,  by  whom, 
after  being  excnanged  for  thirty  British  prisoners,  he  was 
tried. 

After  an  investigation  of  all  the  facts,  the  court  de- 
clined making  a  decision  on  the  charge  of  treason,  which 
was  alleged  against  him,  but  said,  they  did  not  believe, 
from  any  thing  which  had  come  before  them,  that  he  had 
been  guilty  ofthat  act.  On  the  second  charge,  for  cowar- 
dice— and  the  third,  for  neglect  of  duty  ana  unofficerlike 
conduct,  they  condemned  him.  A  sentence  of  death  was 
passed  upon  him,  but  in  consideration  of  his  revolutionary 
services  and  his  advanced  age,  he  was  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  mercy  of  the  President,  who  remitted  the 
sentence,  but  directed  a  general  order  to  be  issued,  by 
which  his  name  was  struck  from  the  rolls  of  the  army. 

Could  that  genius  and  enterprise,  which  distinguished 
tlie  oiinev  officers  of  the  northwestern  army,  have  been  im- 
parted to  its  commander,  a  more  glorious  issue  to  the 


m 


34 


HISTORICAL  ^KETCHES 


American  arms,  must  have  been  the  necesoary  result. 
The  conduct  of  the  several  detachments,  and  the  ample 
success  of  each  excursion,  gave  aii  almost  incontestible 
proof,  that  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  warfare,  would 
have  obtained  complete  victory.  Had  the  effect  of  these 
successes  been  followed  up  by  a  rapid  movement  of  the 
army  itself,  and  proper  advantages  been  taken  of  the  de- 
sertions from  the  enemy's  garnson,  the  whole  country 
would  have  been  subjugated,  or  laid  open  to  future  expe- 
ditions, and  the  object  of  the  present,  would  doubtless 
have  been  achieved.  Weidcness  and  imbecility,  however, 
supplied  the  place  of  military  talent,  and  the  result  was 
different  from  that,  which  was  looked  for  by  the  army  and 
the  nation. 


Ill 


S  1 


■  V 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


35 


CHAPTER  H. 


disposition  of  the  ^aval  Forces — Escape  of  thif  Cfmsti- 
tution — Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisals — TJie  Jttas 
eneages  two  armed  ships^—inie  Essex  captures  the  Jilert 
-^^Engagement  between  the  Con8tituti(m  and  Gu^rriere 
—Pursuit  of  the  Belvidere — *in  engagement  on  the  St. 
'  iMwrmce — Capture^  the  British  brigs  Detroit  and 
'  Caledonia^  on  Lake  Erie — The  Wasp  captures  the  Fro- 
lie — Both  taken  by  the  Poictiers — ioss  of  the  United 
States  schooners  JS'autilm  and  Vixen. 

CoTEMPORANEous  with  the  disaster  at  Detroit,  was  a 
succession  of  brilliant  achievements  on  the  ocean,  paral- 
leled perhaps,  but  never  yet  surpassed;  the  intelligence 
of  which  entirely  dispelled  the  temporary  gloom,  which 
pervaded  the  minds,  and  filled  with  giiei,  me  hearts  of 
the  American  people.  At  the  commencement  of  hostili- 
ties, such  of  the  United  States  vesseh;  of  war,  whose 
equip.nents  were  entire,  had  orders  tc  proceed  immedi- 
ately to  sea.  A  squadron  of  three  frif^ates,  one  brig,  and 
one  sloop  of  war,  sailed  on  the  twent^'iirst  of  June  (1812) 
from  New  York,  in  quest  of  several  of  the  enemy's  frigates, 
known  to  be  at  that  time  cniding  off  the  entrance  to  that 
harbour.  On  the  third  of  July,  the  frigate  Essex,  captain 
Porter,  went  to  eea  from  the  same  port;  and  the  Consti- 
tution, captain  KuU,  sailed  from  the  Chesapeake  bay  on 
the  twelfth.  The  brigs  Nautilus,  Viper,  and  Vixen,  were 
at  the  same  time  cruising  oft"  the  coast;  and  the  slpop  of 
wa*  Wasp  was  at  i;ea,  on  her  return  from  France. 

On  the  morninff  of  the  17th,  an  English  sauadron,  con- 
sisting of  the  Jifricat  a  ship  of  the  liue,  tiie  frigates  Shan- 
non,  Ou^rHeret  Behridere,  and  JEo^us,  and  a  brig  and 
schooner,  iiie  nearest  of  the  fri^ites  beine  within  ^n- 
shot,  gave  chase  to  the  Constitution.  A  cum  prevailing 
during  the  whole  day,  towing  and  warping  were  unremit- 
tingly resorted  to;  but  the  enemy,  by  attaching  nU  the. 


36 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


\m 


I  !♦:  ■:> 


boats  of  the  squadron  to  two  of  the  frigates,  had  gained 
so  much  upon  the  Constitution,  as  to  bring  their  bow  guns 
to  bear  upon  her,  though  they  received  several  discharges 
from  her  stem  chasers.  The  chase  continued  all  niglit. 
On  the  following  morning,  (18th)  at  daylight,  the  Consti- 
tution, taking  advantage  of  a  fresh  breeze  which  just  then 
spranff  up,  spread  all  her  canvas,  outsailed,  and  escaped 
from  Tier  pursuers,  and  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  evening 
of  the  26th— whence  she  sailed  upon  a  cruise  on  the 
second  of  August.  The  chase  had  continued  for  sixty 
hours;  the  ship's  crew  were  all  that  time  at  their  sta- 
tions; and  the  escape  of  the  frigate  from  seven  sail,  two 
of  which  were  warped  up  by  more  than  six  times  the  num- 
ber of  men  und  boats  employed  by  the  Constitution,  has 
been  considered  as  an  incontestible  proof,  of  the  superior 
skill  and  seamanship  of  her  commander.  The  officers  of 
the  pursuing  ships,  one  of  whom  was  aftei*ward  captured 
by  captain  Hull,  have  spoken  of  it  in  terms  of  the  highest 
admiration. 

Congress  having  authorised  th«»  President  to  issue  let- 
ters of  marque  and  reprisals,  the  ocean  was  very  soon 
covered  with  private  armed  ships,  from  almost  every  port 
in  the  United  States.  One  of  the  first  which  sailed,  was 
the  schooner  Atlas,  commanded  by  captain  '.'avid  Mof- 
fet;  who,  on  the  third  of  August,  fell  in  with  two  armed 
ships  of  the  enemy,  and  at  11  A.M.  engaged  them  both. 
The  action  commenced  by  a  broadside  of  musketry 
from  the  Atlas,  and  was  continued  without  intermission 
until  liv/on,  when  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  struck  her 
colou/s.  The  whole  fire  of  the  Atlas  was  then  brought 
against  the  largest  ship,  when  that  which  had  already 
struck,  "again  opened  her  broadside.  A  few  shot  from 
the  Atlas,  however,  drove  every  man  from  her  decks,  and 
compelled  her  a  second  time  to  yield.  At  20  minutes 
Pc  M.  the  largest  ship  struck  also,  and  on  taking  posses- 
sion of  them,  captain  Moffet  found  them  to  be,  the  ship 
Pursuit,  of  450  tons,  16  guns,  18's  and  9*8,  and  35  men ; 
and  the  ship  Planter,  of  12  guns,  12  pounders,  and  15 
men.  During  tlie  action,  the  Atlas  was  very  much  dis- 
abled in  her  ri^ng,  and  had  2  men  killed  and  5  wound- 
ed. Among  the  latter,  a  seafian  of  the  name  of  William 
Curl,  who  behaved  with  great  coolness,  and  refused  to 
quit  his  quarters^  though  he  lijid  received  a  wound,  which 


OF  T^LATE  Win, 


37 


ship 
ten; 
15 


aftenvards  proved  to  be  mortal.  The  three  vessels  were 
making  a  port,  when  a  British  frigate  hove  in  si^it,  and 
recaptured  1^e  Planter,  but  the  Atlas,  and  her  lai^st 
prize,  arrived  safely  in  the  Delaware. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  August,  the  frigate  Essex,  which 
had  now  been  cruising  forty  days,  fell  in  with  the  Bri^dh 
sloop  of  war  Alert,  captain  Laushd!k'ne,  of  20  guAs,  and 
130  m^,  who  immediately  ran  down  upon  the  fri^te*s 
weather  quarter^  gave  three  cheiers,  coolimenced  an  ac^ 
tion,and  after  ei^t  minute's  firing,  struck  her  colotirs; 
with  7  feet  water  m  her  hdd,  her  hull  cut  to  pieces,  alid 
three  of  h»r  men  wounded.  The  officers  and'  crew  of 
the  Eb8es:,  which  received  not  the  slightest  injury,  were 
hi^ly  aMused  at  the  boldness  of  the  enemy,  who  must 
have  calculated  on.  an  easy  conquest  over  the  American 
fHgi\t-e.  ^  few  broadsides,  however,  deliberately  fired 
into  #^'''^' -r..^  of  war,  brought  down  her  colours,  and 
after  cuncilucling  an  arrangement  with  captain  Lau^ame 
to  that  effect,  captain  Porter  dismantled  ner  of  her  arma- 
ment, and  putting  all  his  prisoners,  being  allout  500,  on 
board,  sent  ner,  under  the  comtnand  of  one  of  his  officers, 
lie'itenant  J.  P.  Wilmer,  as  a  cartel  to  St  Johns,  in  New- 

indland,  whence  she  was  instructed  to  sail  fw  NefjP 
York,  with  whatever  American  (JHsoners  might  b6  givi^ 
in  exchange.  ' 

About  seventeen  dajs  after,  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
3011i,  captain  Porter  discovered,  and  stood  under  an  easy 
ail  for,  one  of  the  enemy's  frigates,  which  was  at  the  sai^ 
time  standing  for  hm^  The  Essex  was  cleared,  and  ike 
crew  anxious  for  r  ^  agagement  Bering  apprehensive 
that  the  enemy  r«V  ''o  imd  him  in  the  ni^t,  captain 
Porter  hoisted  -a  ligiit  i  ti.s  mast  head,  and  at  9  o'clock 
discovered  a  sisn^  ot  two  flashes  and  a  blue  light,  at 
about  4  miles  distance.  The  Essex  stood  on  wr  the 
pol.  ^t  which  this  signal  wa  iven,  until  midnight;  but 
not  getting  a  sight  of  the  enemy,  she  hove  too,  under  an 
expectation  that  the  hostile  ship  would  do  the  same,  until 
morning.  To  the  great  surprise  of  captain  Porter,  and 
the  mortification  *^f  his  crew,  at  daylight  the  enemy  waa 
not  to  be  seen. 

On  the  fourth  <  f  )cp^enkber,  (1313)  in  a  tempting  to  get 
ipto  New  York,  the  Ii^sex  was  mtercepted  ana  chased  l>y 
two  large  ships  of  war,  who  giined  her  wake  and  caaie  up 


mm 


S* 


HTflTMUCAL  SKBTCHES 


vrith  g^t  fleetness;  but  she  escaped  from  thetn  by  ma- 
HONiTnng  in  tiie  night,  having  mt  hoisted  American 
colours^  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward.  One  of  the  ships 
being  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other,  and  about 
Hye  miW  «9tem  of  the  Essex,,  it  was  determined  to  heave 
ibwt  as  soon  as  it  became  dark;  and  in  ^e  event  of 
ftot  being  able  to  pAs8»  to  fire  a  broadside  into  her,  and 
lay  her  on  board.  The  wind  heading  the  Essex  off,  how- 
ever* at  thirtjT  minutes  after  eight  she  bore  away,  and 
b^ng  cut  off  from  New  York,  effected  her  escape  into  the 
b^  of  Delaware,  where  she  arrived  on  the  seventh^ 
unthout  the  loss  d  a  man — having  made  nine  cantures  in 
addition  to  the  Alert  The  Alert  returned  from  St. 
Johns,  and  arrrived  at  Ne  ^'^  '^^'  on  the  luxteenih  of  Sep- 
li^mber,  with  270  American  ^       ners.. 

On  the  dStH  of  August,  (181^^  iie  Constitution  returned 
to  Boston,  from  a  cruise  commenced  upon  the  second  of 
that  msm^t  and  signalized  by  a  brilliant  and  victorious 
contesA  with  a  Brituh  ship-  of  war,  the  commander  of 
which  had  repeatedly  tiireatened  the  capture  of  any  one 
of  ^e  American  fri^tes,  whom  it  misht  be  his  fortune  to 
encounter.  The  frigate  Gttetriere  had  been  sailing  off 
tj^e  eoast,  for  several  months  previously  to  the  declafatlon 
$i  war;  and  had  frequently  shown  herself  at  the  entrances 
to  the  different  ports,  wi^  her  name  written  in  lai^ 
characters  upon  a  flag  at  one  of  her  mast  heads,  and  at 
Miother  the  words  *^md  the  Little  Be/^— in  allusion  to 
an  affair  which  had  taken  place  between  a  sloop  of  war 
of  that  name,  and  Uie  Unitea  States'  frigate  President;  in 
which  ^e  latter  ship  retorted  an  assault  committed  on 
her,  in  time  of  peace,  by  dischai^ng  two  broadsides  at, 
and  nearly  sinkmg  the  sloop  of  war.*   Captiun  Hull  had 

*  On  the  16th  Majr,  the  little  Belt,^  commanded  by  captain 
BijDgbam,  and  mounting  18  gufis,  was  hailed  by  the  President, 
to  know  what  ship  she  was.  The  captain  of  the  Little  Belt  re- 
peated the  question,  without  answering  it:  and  commodore  Ro- 
e:rs  Sigain  asked,  "  What  ship  is  that?*'  This  demand  was  fol- 
ved  by  a  shot  £rom  the  little  Belt.  The  President  returned  it, 
imd  receired  a  broadnde  from  her.  ComiQodore  Rogers  then 
^ve  a  general  order  to  fire :  and  having  silenced  the  other,  anun 
Viquired  what  ship  she  was.  He  now  received  an  answer,  which 
ht^inied  him  of  the  character  of  the  vessel:  and  he  lay  too,  in 
order  to  assist  her  in  repairing  her  damages.  [For  a  particular 
account  of  tius  aflSur,  see  Clark's  Naval  Histoiy  of  the  United 
States.] 


r 


I' 
(If 


I  by  ma- 
Linericaii 
th«  8bipa 
id  9bout 
to  heave 
event  of 

her,  and 

oft  how- 

wray,  and 

B  into  the 

geventh-, 
ititures  in 
from  St. 
AofSep- 

l  returned 
second  of 
vktorioua 
nander  of 
►f  any  one 
fortune  to 
I  sailing  off 
eclaratlon 
entrances 
in  large 
,  and  at 
lusion  to 
jp  of  war 
isident;  in 
litted  on 
Ldsides  at, 
Hull  had 

|by  captain 
\  President, 
le  Belt  re- 
[lodore  Ro- 
ad was  fol- 
etumcd  it, 
i^en  then 
_ier,  agwn 
irer,  wnich 
lay  too,  in 
[particular 
le  United 


\ 


I 


m 


^^'-<^Ij< 


V'-'^ 


^^r^ 


m 


^\Vv 


OV  TUB  IiM»  WAB.  !ff. 


39 


been  informed  of  the  afipeaniice  of  a  sinsle  ship  of  vfw, 
to  the  eastwurd  of  the  coast,  and  immemately  ttood  in 
that  direetion.  Between  the  second  and  the  nineteenth 
of- August,  he  made  several  captures  of  merchantmen, 
and  recaptured  an  American  br^,  which  had  been  taken 
by  the  Awngtr.  On  that  day,  in  iat.  41  deg.  42  min.  N. 
and  lOfnt.  55  deg.  33  min.  W.  he  discovered  a  large  fri- 
gate of  Bie  enemy,  set  all  sail  in  chase,  and  came  up  with, 
and  ca^ured  her,  after  a  s{nrited  engagement  of  forty<^ 
five  nffliiitet.  She  proved  to  be  the  fngate  Querriere, 
of  38  i^ns,  but  carrying  49,  and  commanded  by  captun 
James  M.  Dacres.  She  was  discovered  at  wout  two 
p.  M.  and  at  foul*,  the  Constitution  was  closini^*  fast  upon 
her.  At  ten  minutes  past  four,  the  enemy  hoiste^i  £ng)iih 
colours^  and  commenced  the  action  by  firing  several 
guns.  The  Constitution's  fire  was  reserved,  unvH  she 
could  be  put  in  such  a  position  that  ev^ry  shot  shci!ld 
take  ^fect;^  fuid  the  sailing  master,  Aylwin,  brought  her 
80  sinfully  into  action,  tmit  captain  Hull's  views  wene 
completefy  accomplished.  But  the  enemy  not  e<Hnfipre- 
hc*<ffing  them,  suspected  the  Americans  of  timidity,  or 
of  ignorance  in  the  art  of  gunnery,  and  dischM-gedt  )m 
broiulsides  with  an  assurance  of  crippling  his  antagonist, 
before  he  might  opeb  hi»  battery.  The  Crew  w  thf 
Constitution,  anxiously  awaiting  tlie  orders  of  ^eir  coitt* 
mander  to  fire,  were  themselves  filled  with  surprise  fit 
his  receiving  so  many  rounds^  without  yet  retumk^ 
them.  Captain  Hull,  at  his  station,,  however,  was  wiiS 
great  iud^ment  reconnoitring  the  enemy  witi  his  ghuit; 
until  nndmg'that  the  ability  aiid  excellent  seamannAiip 
of  his  sailing-master,  brought  up  the  ship  to  the  exact 
station,  uptm  the  enemy's  beam,  from  which  he  kliew 
he  could  efiectuaJly  annoy  him,  he  issued  his  orders  to 
fire  broadside  after  broadside,  with  the  greatest  poesiUe 
rapidity.  Hife  crew,  now  perfectly  entering  into  apla.^^ 
which  none  but  to  able  seaman  could  have,  conceived, 
executed  his  commtmds  with  as  much  alacrity  as  was 
required;  and  after  fifteen  minutes  close  and  constant 
cannonading  the  enemy's*  mizen  mast  havmg  gone  over 
his  stiiirboara  f|ttarter,  the  Con8ttti|l36ik  was  placed  upon 
his  Iffirboard  bow,  in  a  raking  posfthm ;  frmn  ^liiidi  i&e 
swept  tfie  decks  of  the  Guerdere,  with  grape  and  mus« 
ketry.    The  enemy's  sh^  became   now  unmanag>eaibie» 


40 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


and  the  Constitution  prepartd  to  lay  her  on  board.  Lieu- 
tenant Bush  attempt^  to  throw  his  marines  on  her  deck, 
when  he  was  killed  by  a  musket  ball  $  and  the  Guerriere* 
at  the  .same  moment,  getting  clear  of  the  Constitution^ 
shot  ahead;  but  it  being  impossible  to  ^t  her  before 
the. wind,  she  was  exposed  to  every  raking  fire  of  her 
opponent  Her  fore  and  main. masts  went  over  th(f  side; 
her  hull  was  cut  almost  to  pieces;  and  at  twenty  minutes 
past  fiv^  she  surrendered.  The  execution  of  the  Consti- 
tution's fire  was  dreadfully  severe ;  and  the  management 
of  the  vessel  reflected  gi'eat  credit  ou  her  ofl&cer.  Her 
loss  was  but  7  killed  and  7  wounded.  The  Guerriere's 
loss  was  about  102»*-Hin  wounded  6S,  in  kflled  and  missing 
upwards  of  40. 

The  Constitution  had  some  spars,  and  much  of  her  rig- 
png,  shot  away;  after  repairing  which,  and  getting  out 
%e  prisoners,  ane  set  fire  te,  and  blew  up  the  Gruerriere, 
which,  was  in  ^  sinking  a  condition  that  she  could  not  be 
brought  into  port  Captain  Hull  spoke  in  ^high  terms  of 
the  crew,  from  the  smallest  boy  in  the  ship  to  the  oldest 
seaman.  The  officers  behaved  with  great  gallantry* 
AmQ!ng  the  most  conspicuous  of  them  were  lieutenants 
Hoffioian,  *Shubrick,  and  Morgan.  The  brave  and  amia* 
ble  lieutenant  William  Bush,  the  ^t  naval  officer  who 
fell  in  this  war,  distinguished  himself  by  intrepidly- 
leading  on  the  boarders,  when  he  received  the  ball  which 
deprii^  his  country  of  his.  services.  .  Mr  Avlwin,  who 
mancNivred  the  ship  so  well  throu^out  the  battle,^  was 
severely  wounded;  and  on  his  return  to  port,  was  pro- 
mated  to  the  rank  of  a  lieutenant  The  first  omcery 
lieutenant  Morris,  was  dangerously  wounded;  his  con- 
duct procured  for  him  the  applause  of  the  govanment, 
and  a  promotion  to  the  raidc  oi  post  captain.  Captain  Hull 
was  received  with  a  degree  of  joy  bordering  on  en^usiasm, 
l^y  the  citizens  of  every  town  through  which  he  passed,  on 
his  way^to  the  navy  department  Many  of  the  state  legis- 
latures voted  him  their  thanks  and  a  sword;  the  freedom 
of  several  cities  was  presented  to.  him,  each  in  a  gold 
box;  and  the  people  of  Charleston  luul  Philadelphia 
subscribed  for  the  purchase  of  two  el^ant  nieces  of  plate. 
The  congress  of  the  United  States  votecThim,  and  his 
officers  and  crew,  their  thanks-^— and  the  sutn  of  fifty  thojii-* 
sand  dollars. 


1 


•FTH«  jihmkWAM* 


M 


was 


loin 

)ld 

)hia 

late. 


llie  Ouerriere',  was  on^  of  the  finest  of  the  krgesi  class 
of  tUgatfes  in  the  British  naTj;  a  fact  whieh  is  eer^flcd  in 
a  letter  to  lord  Keith  from  a  British  oftcer,  captain  TIM- 
maiJLavte,  of  the  frieite  Blanehe-^n  irhich  snip,  en  tlie 
IQth^'of  July,  1806,  df  the  Farro  islands,  after  A  eontetft 
of  the  same  length,  (45  minutes)  he  esptnrei  the  VltMl 
frigate  Le  Guerriere,  commanded  b^Mifrnflieiir  HlilileFtof 
the  lesion  of  honour.  His  letter  states,  '  JU  Bwrtitrt 
f «  of  me  largest  class  offrisates^  vumrnHng  50  ^ns,  wUh 
a  complement  of  317  men.^ 

'    The  squadron  which  had  sailed  on  the  Slst  Junei  un* 

der  the  command  of  commodore  Ro^^rs,  and  %ltich 

consisted  of  ^e  President,  oi  44  ^pam  (flnrsMp);  Unite4 

States,  44,  captain  Decatur;  Congress,  36,  captain  John 

fSsfiTH;  Hornet,  16,  lieutenant  coiiimandaiit  iMimtwoB ; 

imd  Argus,  16,  lieutenant  commanchint  SiNotAiA;  re- 

tiiriisd  from  the  cruise,  and  arrived  in  Boston  harbour  on 

the  Stst  August,  with  about  120  English  prisoners  on 

board;  having  been  out  seventy^^wo  dajTs.    These tes- 

sels  had  been  oST  the  English  cmnnel,  along  the  co&st  of 

France,  Spain,  and  Porti^,  within  30  miles  of  the  Rodt 

of  Id»bon;  thence  to  Maideim  isfand;  thence  off  fToro 

and  Fleres;  and  thrice  back  to  tlui  Banks,  and  by  I^Ml 

Scotia  to  Boston.    They  -were,  most  of  this  tmne,  in 

search  of  the  Jamaica  fleet;  ^oudi  on  the  thiiil  day  out, 

their  attention  was  diverted,  by  the  appearance  of  a  Iftn^ 

sait,  whix;h  was^i^erwards  known  to  be  the  BrHlsK  m- 

gate  Belvidere,  captain  Richard  Byron,  toA  to  wlw^ 

they  gave  chase.    The  Pi^sident  beW  a  superior  sai^ 

to  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  was  brou^t  within  gUtt  shot 

of  the  enemy.    The  breeze  tnclinlnff^to  the  wesfyurg 

and  becoming  lighter,  however,  tilie  Belvidere  hi;^  ^e 

advantage;  at  1  P.M.  she  hoisted  English  colours.    At 

four,  the  wind  haying  chang^,  so  UtaA  the  two  vesflfels 

sailed  nearly  alike,  commodore  Roc^gers  determined'  to 

fire  bis  bow  chase  guns  at  the  ringing  and  splurs,  in  the 

expectation  of  crippling  the  enemy^  so  that  her  escape 

would  be  prevented,  or  at  least  that  the  President  mimt 

be  eniMed  to  come  up.    The  fire  was  returned  from  me 

enemy's  stem"  guns,  aind  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  un^ 

thirty  nunutes  aast  four,  i^en  one  of  the  PK^sidentfs  chl^ 

guns  burst,  killed  and  wounded  16  men^-«mong1)ke  lit* 

ter  ^e  commodore,  and  by  the  explosion  of  the  ptMB^ag- 

D2 


f-f 


42 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


box  from  which  the  sun  was  served  with  powder,  both 
tiie  niiun  and  forecastle  decks  in  its  neighbourhood  were 
much  shattered.  The  helm  was  then  put  to  starboard, 
and  the  dischai^  of  the  President's  broadside,  wounded, 
and  considerably  iniiu^d,  thou§^  it  did  not  destroy  the 
spars  and  ringing  of  the  Belvidere.  The  President  be- 
gan now  to  ^e  ground,^  no  hope  was  left  of  bringing  the 
enemy  to  close  action,  except  that  derived  from  being 
to  windward,  and  the  probability  that  a  breeze  migiit  fa- 
vour the  President  first,  and  ^e  commodore  ordered  her 
to  be  steered  close  after  him,  and  the  bow  chase  fluns  to 
be  kept  playing  on  his  spars,  rimng,  and  stern.  At  five, 
the  %nemy*s  stem  guns  annoyed^the  President  so  much, 
that  the  commodore  determined  on  another  broadside, 
which  beinff  dischai^ed,  was  found  to  have  wounded  the 
fore  topsail  yard  of  the  Belvidere:  after  this  the  pursuit 
was  kept  up  until  11  P.  M.  The  President  gave  two 
more  broadsides,  but  the  Belvidere  having  stove  and 
threw  overboard  her  boats,  and  every  ihis^  which  could 
bi^  possibly  spared,  and  having  cut  away  her  anchors 
an4  started  about  fourteen  tons  of  water,  outsailed  the 
squadron,  and  effected  her  escape.  Six  men  were  killed 
and  wounded  by  the  Belvidere's  fire,  and  16  by  the  acci- 
dent on  board  the  President,  making  in  all  22,  among 
whom,  besides  the  commodore,  were  5  midshipmen,  one 
Ueutenfint  of  marines,  and  one  lieutenant  of  the  ship. 

WhMo  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  ocean, 
several^  naval  affiurs  took  place  upon  the  lakes,  more 
infericH:  in  their  ma^itude,  than  m  the  heroism  of  the 
ions  concerned  in  them.  On  the  30th  of  July,  the 
Julia  of  one  32  pounder,  and  two  6*s,  waa  fitted  out 
Kt's  Harbour,  witli  orders  to  proceed  to  (^ens- 
b«rgi>  .  On  the  31st,  upon  entering  the  St.  Lawrence, 
within  s^t  of  Brockvilk,  ten  miles  from  her  destination, 
sheidiscovered  the  Earl Moira  of  18  guns,  and  the  Ikike 
q/f  wiQUcester  of  10,  lying  to.  The  Julia  hore  down 
^thin  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  them,  and  came  to 
action*  At  hfdf  past  4  P>  M.  the  enemy  opened  his  fire, 
and  the  engagement  continued  three  hours  and  an  half, 
during  which  time,  numerous  attempts  n^ere  made  to 
iKItrd  the  Julia,  by  the  boats  of  the*  Ih^se,  but  the  52 
pottnder  being  well  fought,  tlie  enemy  was  oblked  to 
relinquish  that  plan.    Both  vesWs  hauled  up  under  the 


or  THE  LATE  WAS. 


4S 


lens- 


land  battery,  and  kept  up  a  heavy  fire.  At  8  o'clock 
the  Julia  pi-oceeded  to  Oniensburg*  without  the  loss  of  a 
man.  The  enemy's  loss  has  never  been  ascertained.  In 
all  the  engaeemen^  three  shot  only  struck  the  hull;  one 
went  throu^  the  jib,  and  another  pierced  the  gun  car- 
riage of  the  Julia.  Her  ciew  were  all  volunt^%2rs;  lieu- 
tenant H.  Wells  ha\ing  the  coipimand,  Samuel  Dixon  beine 
sailing  master,  and  captain  Benedict  beinff  on  board  witii 
a  sm^l  company  of  riflemen,  actina;  as  marines. 

Lieutenant  Jesse  D.  Elliot,  of  £e  United  States  navy, 
had  been  ordered  to  the  Niagara  river  to  %iperintend 
the  buildii^  of  the  vessels  at  Black  Rock,  for  the  service 
on  Lake  Erie.  The  British  Inig  Detroit  of  six  6  pound 
long  guns,  formerly  ^e  United  States'  brig  Adams»  which 
had  been  taken  at-the  surrender  of  Detroit,  and  the  brie 
Caledonia,  of  two  small  guns,  both  well  appointed  ana 
supplied  with  blunderbusses,  pistols,  muskets,  cutlas  'S, 
bfHirding  pikes  and  battle  axes,  came  down  the  lake  ind 
r  «>hored  under  the  protection  of  fort  Erie,  on  the  monii- 
of  the  eighth  of  October.  Lieutenant  Elliot  planned 
expedition  against  them,  which,  because  there  were 
but  few  seamen  at  the  station,  was  to  be  executed  by 
volunteers  from  the  army.  This  plan  was  communicated 
to  gmeral  Smyth,  who  immediately  agreed  to  sup^y  the 
regulars,  to  man  two  boats,  toattack  and  cut  out  tne  ene* 
ray's  vessels.  Several  companies  of  artillery  and  infantry 
wnich  arrived  at  tiie  Rock  only  a  few  days  before,  on  hear- 
ing the  proposal  for  volunteers,  stept  forward  to  a  man, 
aim  such  was  the  eagerness  of  idl  the  troq)s,  that  it  be-o- 
came  necessary  to  resort  to  lot.  Fifty  men  only  were 
wanted :  lieutenant  Elliot  having  heard  tnat  the  same  num- 
ber of  seamen  were  at  a  short  distance  from  him  on  their 
route  to  the  naval  station,  and  who  arrived  at  12  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  that  day,  aiul  who,  though  they  came  off  a 
march  of  500  miles,  m  determined  should  be  also  of  the 
expedition.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  selection 
was  completed,  and  the  men  stationed  in  two  boats,  (fifty 
in  each)  commanded  by  lieutenant  Elliot,  andiuling  mas- 
ter Watts.  jbaif^#ie  same  boat  wi^  the  former,  was  li€;ui> 
tenant  Isaac  Itottch,  and  with  the  latter,  captain  N.  Tom- 
son,  both  of  jdift  artillery,  and  officers  of  great  merit,  who 
had  been  fortunate  enou^  to  dr^w  the  successful  loia. 
About  three  hours  before  dayUght  of  the  following  mom- 


44 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


Citr 


ii^  the  boats  put  off  from  the  mcutii  of  BuJDSiloe  creeks 
and  m  two  hours  were  alongside  the  vessels. 

In  ten  minutes  the  crews  of  each  were  sc  curedi  the  top- 
sails sheeted  home,  aikl  the  vessels  underway.  The  wind 
not  being  sufficiently  strong  to  get  tiiem  up  against  a  rapid 
current  into  the  lalte,  Ihey  were  obli^d  to  nm  down  the 
Niagara,  by  the  forts,  undier  a  strong  ^re  of  i.-ound,  grape, 
and  cannister,  from  a  number  of  pieces  of  heavy  i^cwance 
and  flying  ardlkery-  They  anchored  within  400  yards  of 
the  enemylabattenes.  The  <^|lcet  comma:idJng  these  was 
huled,  an#informed  that  if  another  gun  was  fired,  the 

ErisoQArs  sliould  be  brought  on  deck  and  dbare  whatever 
ite  mij^t  attend  the  American  crew.    This  threat  was 
disF^amed,  but  the  humanity  of  the  American  officers 

Srevented  them  from  executing  it,  thou^  a  constant  and 
eistmctive  fire  was  kept  up  Scorn  <4ie  enemy.  The  Cale- 
donia succeeded  ifi  getting  under  the  battenes  of  Black 
Rock;  but  the  Detroit  could  not  be  got  across.  All  her 
guns' were  therefore  placed  upon  the  side  next  the  enemy, 
and  a  fire  directed  asunst  uie  batteries,  as  long  as  the 
ttnmunitior^  lasted.  During  the  conteut^  sf>!veral  attempts 
to  warp  her  over  to  iAke  American  shore,  wei-e  unsuccess- 
fitHy  mai^.  The  fire  firom  the  batteries  was  so  destructive, 
that  lieutenaint  Elliot,  expecting  that  she  would  soon  be 
-sunk,  if  diie  remained  in  that  situation,  determined  to  drift 
df '«n  the  river  out  of  cheir  reach,  and  prefer  mddng  a 
stand  against  the*.  Ayii^  artillery.  The  caole  was  accord- 
inffly  cut,  and  the  Detroit.made  sail  with  light  airF .  but  the 
|nK>t  having  abaiidoned  her,  she  brou^t  up  on  ihe  Cana- 
dian side  of  Squaw  island.  The  boarding  boat  was  imme- 
tliately  (Hit  in  readiness,  and  sent  with  the  prisonetv  to  the 
53P  Amencan  side  of  the  rive",  wi+h  Jirectior.*  to  return  for 
'""  lieutenant  Elliot,  and  whatever  proper*}  could  be  got  out 
of  the  bri|,;  the  boat,  however,  could  not  <^t  back  to  her. 
lieutenant  Elliot  was,  tlierefore,  obliged,  with  lieutenant 
Roarb  and  four  prisone^TS,  to  make  the  Miore  in  a  skiff  which 
they  discovered  under  the  counter.  Protection  was  then 
asked  ^or  Ae  brig  from  lieutenant  colonelScott,  of  the  se- 
cond regiment  of  artillery,  who  immediately  despatched  a 
company  of  that  corps,  under  captair^  J.  N.  Barker,  with  a 
few  pieces,  tio  be  stationed  opposite  Die  island.  A  boat  from 
1^  British  shore  approached  the  brig  with  forty  men,  wh'i* 
tMcct^ded  in  getting  on  board,  but  the  fire  of  four  pieces 


/ 


a.- 


or  TikE  LATE  WAf ;. 


4». 


of  artillery,  soon  compelled  them  to  abandon  ker«  and 
she  was  left  m  snch  a-  condition,  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  float  her.  Captain  Talbot  Chambers,  and  part  of 
the  fifth  United  States  regiment,  afterwards  crossed  to 
Squaw  island  and  burnt  her,  witii  her  valuable  cargo  of 
furs.  The  Caledonia's  cargo  was  estimated  at  200,000 
dollars.  In  all  these  proce^ings,  the  American  loss  was 
i)  killed  $  3  severely,  and  4  or  5  slightly,  wounded.  Ma* 
jor  Cuyler,ah  officer  of  great  bravery,  was*  killed  by  the 
first  shot  from  the  enemy's  battieries,  as  he  stood  on  the 
beach  >.  and  midshipman  John  C.  Cummings  was  wound- 
ed in  the  leg  by  a  bayonet,  as  he  wa»  boarding  the  De- 
troit. The-r^ularswere  unused  to  thid  species  of  ser- 
vice, but  they  had  entered  into,  it  with  a^eal  and  alacrity, 
and  ^ir  condu<^  entitled  them  ;to  the  af^robation  which 
th^y  received  from  Iheir  officers.  Caotam  Towson  and 
lieutenant  Roach  were  actively  engaf^ea  during  the  whole 
enteifMrise,  and  contributed  to  it&  success,  as  much  by 
the»»:counsel,  as  by  their  intrepidity.  The  artillery  which 
was  stationed  on  the  shore,  when  the  Detroit  was  aban- 
doned by  the  crew,  was  served  with  skill  and  dexterity. 
The.  lossi  of  the  enemy,  by  the  report  of  deserters,  was 
about  Seventy.  •.      ? 

The  United  States  sloop  of  war  the  Wasp,  havii  re- 
turned from  France,  and  refitted,  put  to  sea  again  in  " 
the  Delaware,  on  the.  13th  Oc^ber,  on  a  cruise.  On  the 
17th  she  discovered  five  sail  steering  eastward,  und  as 
several  Df  tiiem  had  the  appearance  .of  ships  of  war,  she 
was  plaoEki  in  a  situation  uiat  she  could  escape  from,  or 
assail  them,  as  circumstances  mi^t  require.  Keeping  in 
the  course  she  had  descried  them,  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, at  dayl^it,  tliey  were  seen  ahead,  and  on  being  made 
out  to  be  a  convoy  of  six  sail,  under  convoy  of  a  sloop 
of  war,  the  Wasp  gave  them  immediate  chase.  The 
convoy,  under  a  heavy  press  of  sail,  all  made  their  es- 
cape, and  left  the  sloop  of  war  to  contend  alone  with 
the' Wasp;  though  four  of  those,  who  avoided  the  con- 
flict, were  heavy  ships,  and  mounted  16  and  18  guns. 
The  weather  was  extremely  boisterous,  and  the  sea  so 
rough,  that  the  Wasp's  guns  had  already  several  times 
been  under  water,  she  nevertheless,  prepared  for  actijtMit 
and  at  32  minutes  piMt  11,  came  down  to  windward  in 
handsome  style,  on  the  larboard  side  of  the  sloop  of  war, 
and  hailed  her  within  about  60  yards.  She  was  tlie  British 


Hi 


s*"*:-. 

'^.4 


H 


4# 


HISTOSICAI.  SKETCHES 


Hiop  the  Ftolic,  captain  Whinyeates,  of  S2  guns,  and 
at  ms  moment  shewed  Spanish  colours,  but  apon  being 
hailed  she  immediately  hauled  them  down,  koisted  the 
English  ensiim,  and  commenced  a  fire  of  cannon  and 
musketry,    ^e  action  becoming  close,  the  Wasp  re- 
ceived a  shot  which  took  away  her  main  topmast,  threw 
it  over  the  fore  and  fore  mainsail  braces,  and  made  her 
head  yuda  unmanageable  during  the  remainder  of  the 
action,    ^le  was  soon  after  woucded  in  her  gaff  and 
Ruzen  tomiallant  sail,  but  kejit  up,  notwithstanding,  a 
close  laid  galling  fire  as  her  side  was  goir^  down  witli 
the  swell  of  the  sea,  and  eveary  shot  consequently  sisruck 
the  Frolic's  hull.    The  English,  as  they  ^  ^re  Lccustom- 
ed  to  do,  fired  as  their  ship  was  rising,  and  therefore, 
either  missed  their  a^*  or  struck  only  the  ri^ng  of 
tiie  Wasp.    The  Wasp  shot  ahead,  gave  a  well  mrected 
broadside,  took  a  station  on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  Fro- 
Uq,  and  ^^ually  neared  her,  until  she  lay  her  on  board, 
althou^  while  loading  aio^er,  and  the  last  broadside, 
the  rammers  of  the.  nins  struck  the  side  of  the  enemy's 
vessel.    The  Frolic  riad  long  before  slackened  her  fire, 
and  her  jibboom  having  now  entered  between  the  main 
and  mizen  ri^ng  of  me  Wasp,  two  of  thts     ^  uc*»  euns 
were  brought  mrou^  her  bow  ports,  and  swept  her  wnole 
deck.    The  boarders  were  immediately  called,  and  such 
was  the  anxiety  of  every  man  to  be  the  first  upon  her 
deck,  ^t  several  of  them  were  pulled  down  upon  their 
own  ship  from  the  bowsprit  of  the  Frolic.    Lieutenant 
Biddle,  who  was  a  supernumerary  officer  of  the  Wasp, 
had  mounted  the  hammock  cloth  to  board,  but  his  feet 
getting  entangled  in  the  rienng  of  the  Frolic's  bowsprit, 
midsliipman  J.  C.  Baker,  in  his  enthusiasti'  ardour,  caught 
the  lieutenant  by  his  coat,  tVew  him  back   upon  the 
Wasp's  deck,  and  was  himself  the  first  officer  on  that  (ftf 
tiie  enemy.    Lieutenant  Biddle,  however,  immediately 
sprang  up,  ascended  the  Frolic's  bowsprit,  and  upon  get- 
tmg  on  ner  deck,  found  only  a  seaman  at  the  wheel  and 
three  officers,  who  threw  down  their  swords  and  yielded. 
The  Frolic's  colours,  were  still  flpng,  and  lieutenani    Mid- 
dle jumping  into  the  ri^ne,  pulled  down  the  English 
ensign  himself.    Her  bi^  deck  was  crowded  with   lead 
and  wounded,  and  her  main  deck  alippery  with  blood: 
her  lo^  could  not  be  accurately  ascertained,  as  many  Of 
the  dead  had  been  swept  into  the  sea  by  the  falling  of 


to 
tei 


«F  THB  LATE  WAS. 


"^-»- 


4r 


to,  and 
>n  being 
tted  the 
on  and 
^asp  rc- 
t,  threw 
Lade  her 
r  of  the 
^ff  and 
nding,  a 
wn  with 
[y  stanck 
ecustom- 
therefore, 
i^g  of 
.  mrectcd 
the  Fro- 
(m  boMrd, 
iroadside, 
5  enemy*8 
[  her  fire, 
the  main 
^aguns 
ler  whole 
and  such 
Upon  her 
pon  their 
leutenant 
le  Waep, 
his  feet 
owsprit, 
|r,  caught 
pon   the 
1  that  of 
lediately 
pou  get- 
leel  and 
yielded. 
mi    na- 
Fiiialish 
h  lead 
hlood : 
I  any  <yf 
lling  of 


her  ruKuig,  ancl  others  were  buried  under  tbe  SpanNP^iy^^ 
had  Mien  en  the  deck;  but  by  the^defslaration  eJ^Mgi 
oim  oiffioers.  it  could  not  be  less  than  SO  k^ted  «» 
about  50  wouB'^ed.     The  Waip  lost  5  k^led  aod  ft 
wounded.    Lieutenant  ffiiddle  waa  put  on  boarc^  the  JPro* 
lie  with  a  prize  crew,  with  CHrders  to  make  a  ,^Uthi«!n 
port;  but  the  apjproach  of  a  Bri^  ^p  of  the*|;oe,  ihe 
Poictiers^  sir  J.  Jr.  Bereaford^  of  74  gun9»  made  it  iiecea# 
sarj  for  both  ships  to  m&k«  s&il  for  the  moat  conyenient* 
TV  Frolir  was  so  much  damaged,  and  the  Wasp  so  di»-  . 
abled  in  hv^r  rip;  ^ing,  that  the  enemy  closed  upon  thenk 
fast,  fired  <i  sh^jt  over,  and  passed,  the  Frolic,  puirtued 
the  Wa^  made  capture  of  nodi,  and  ordered  them  Hir 
Bennuda. 

Thus  terminated  a  spirited  rnd  brilliant  contest  of  43 
minutes,  in  tiie  capture  of  an  enemy's  vessel,  4  guns  su*^ 
perior  at  least,  to  her  antagonist  Tlie  conduct  of  the 
American  officers  and  seamen  showed  that  they  were  not 
to  be  surpassed  m  proni.ptitude  or  courage;  to  that  of  lieu* 
tenant  Biddle  and  lieutenant  Rodgsrs,  first  of  the  ship, 
unA  every  other  commii»ioned  aim  wanant  officer  on 
board,  captain  Jones  has  siven  ^ffieial  testimony.    > 

Lieutenant '  Booth  and  Mr.  Rapp,  and  midshipmen 
Gaunt  and  Baker,  theiatter  of  whom  soon  after  died  in 
Bermuda,  behaved  with  great  personal  bravery.  Lieute» 
nant  Claxton,  who  w^  ^  confined  by  sickness,  left  his  bed» 
went  upon  deckhand  noted  the  incidents  of  the  engage-* 
ment  with  great  cofhpo^ure. 

When  captain  Jones  returned  from  Bermuda,  he  re-^ 
ceived  from  his  countrymen  as  many  flattering  testimo- 
nials of  their  approbation^  as  they  had  previously  given  to 
captain  Hull.  Tlie  l^islatures  of  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  and  Delaware,  of  which  latter  state  he  waa  a  nar- 
tive,  presented  him  with  their  thanks,  and  several  elegant 
sworas  and  pieces  of  plate.  The  order  of  Cincinnati  ad- 
mitted him  into  the  society,  as  an  honorary  member,  as 
they  had  captain  Hull;  and  the  congress  of  ike  United 
States  voted  him,  his  officers,  and  crew,  25,000  dollars,  in 
consideration  of  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  by  not  beii^ 
able  to  bring  in  the  Frolic. 

The  next  naval  action  took  pla(»  on  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber, and  terminated  in  the  victcHry  of  the  United  States  fn- 
gate  the  United  States,  over  the  British  frigate  the  Ma* 


,*f. 


T 


46 


HlSTCttlCAL  Slt£f  Cites 


trntmUan,  the  command  of  m^ich,  upo  .  her  bfeing  brought 
Ii|t8^rt,  refitted  and  taken  into  th<i  service,  Wta  given  to 
TOtttemnt  commandant  Jones,  who,  as  a  further  testimony 
of  the  high  opinion  which  the  executive  entertained  of  his 
gal||H9t^conduct  in  the  capture  of  the  FroHc,  was  now  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  post  captain.  ^  The  events  of  that  en- 
gagement, in  the  order  of  succession,  should  have  been 
recorded  in  the. present  chapter.  Tliey  will  be  found, 
however,  in  another  naval  Section  of  this  work. 

Though  the  enemy  ^ned  no  advantaees  over  our 
fercf's  on  the  ocean,  which  could  counterbiuance  the  dis- 
asters he  sustained,  by  these  successive  triumphs  of  the 
American  arms,  his  superior  class  of  ships  maae  capture 
of  several  of  our  smaller  vessels  of  war.  Thje  squadron 
which  had  pursued  the  Constitution  on  the  18th  of  July, 
captured  a  day  or  two  after  the  United  States  schooner 
Nautilus,  of  12  guns,  commanded  by  lieutenant  comman- 
da|it  Crane:  Mid  on  the  22dX>f  Novemoer,(t812)  the  United 
Staiies  schooner  Vixen,  lieutenant  commandant  George 
Waihiogton  Reed,  of  the  same  number  of  sans,  was  cap- 
i0^0t6ra,  chase  of  i^e  hours  and  an  hiQf,  by  the  Bri- 
^h  l^^te  Southampton,  sir  James  I^ucas  Yeo.  /nioueh 
the  V&ifen  was  commanded  by  a  sbilful  and  scientific 
sejuwim,  and  manned  by  as  gallarit  a  crew  a«  any  other 
American  vessel,  every  eflfort  to  escQipe  was  founv!  to  be 
fruitless,  and  she  was  lit  len^  surrendered  to  a  ^hip, 
as  much  superior  in  sailing  as  in  force.  She  had  not 
long  been  captive  to  the  enemy,  before  both  vessels  ran 
ashore,  and  Were  immediately  wrecked.  The  frigate's 
crew  became  mutinous  from  intoxication,  and  the  pro- 
pertr  which  was  saved  from  both  wrecks,,  was  retrieved 
by  the  generous  and  indefatigable  exertions  of  the  Ameri- 
can «aiTors.  Captain  Reed  nimself,  was  as  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  direction  and  encouragement  of  the  men,  as 
any  of  the  British  officers,  and  he  received  the  public  ac- 
knowledgments of  sir  Junes,  accompanied  by  an  ofier 
of  his  parole  to  return  home.  But  such  were  the  noble 
sentiments  by  which  he  was  ever  actuated,  that  he  would 
not  leave  his  officers  and  men,  and  preferrinff  to  remain 
with  them  in  an  unhealthy  climate,  to  which  tiiey  were 
taken,  be  became  a  victim  to  an  obstinate  fever,  brought 
on  by  tim  anxieties  and  fatigues,  to  which,  by  his  unplea^ 
sant  siniation,  and  his  unremitting  attention  to  the  com- 


.,% 


HFTttBLATI&WAlL 


49 


cento 
imon^ 
of  hiB 
vf  pro- 
laten- 
i  been 
found, 

ST  our 
he  dis- 
of  the 
saptute 
iiadron 

f  July, 
ihooner 
mman- 
Umted 
George 
ras  ca|)- 
theBii- 
rhoueh 
ientinc 
other 
to  be 
a  ^hip, 
d  not 
Is  ran 
ite'8 


Lmen- 

sly  en- 

len,  as 

Uic  ac- 

offer 

ndble 

[would 

imain 

were 

it 

ilea- 

com- 


forts  of  his  men,  he  was  necessarily  exposed.  His  ii 
ment  was  attended  by  the  British  officers,  and  a  ddt 
ment  from  the  ganison,  and  his  fonend  obs^uies  w^^ 
aocomponied  by  those  honours,  due  to  his  rank,  and  nc^ 
usually  withhiBid  from  each  other  by  brave  aAd  generous 
ei^emies.  '  ''^ 

A  splendid  triumph  seldom  fails  to  excite  the  ffenenil 
joy,  and  to  call  form  the  universal  admiration  of  me  pdo^ 
pie.  The  rapid  succession,  in  which  thi  naval  conc^aests 
followed  eacn  other;  the  superiority  of  seamanshm  toA 
gunnery,  which  Was  exhibitea  in  ieacn;  and  the  fact  oeing 
now  well  ascertained,  that  the  in^cpertenced  orews^the 
American  navy,  could  not  oidy  sustain  a  collet  wim,  bat 
might  rxtually  capture,  tho  v^eran  seamen  of  the  enemy, 
whenever  chanee  should  bring  them  together^  upon  equal 
tenns;  all  contributed  to  turn  the  aftfflatM>n  of  congress  to 
tile  marine  establishment,  and  the  muwity  of  the  ntitiou 
became  desirous  that  measures  should  be  inmiediately 
adopted  for  its  eidargementi 


CHAPTER  lU. 

Hostilities  of  the  Creek  Indians-^Fight  near  Davis? Creekg 
Battle  cf  the  Lotchway  town, 

Intellioenoe  of  the  recent  misfortune  of  the  north- 
western armv,  of  the  assault  upon  the  troops  from  fort 
Chicago,  ana  of  the  advantages  which  were  conseq^uently 
expected  to  follow  those  events,  having  been  communicate, 
by  early  despatches  from  the  tribes'  on  the  northern,  to 
those  of  the  Creek  nation  on  the  southern  frontiers,  fears 
were  entertained  that  the  result  of  a  council  of  the  chieft 
of  thit  nation,  which  was  to  be  held  on  the  32d  of  October, 
(1812)  would  be  unfavourable  to  the  intOreets  of  that  de« 
partment  of  the  union;  and  that  a  coalition  would  be  form* 
ed  between  the  Indians  of  the  two  extremities,  which  mi^t 
require  all  the  energies  of  the  ^vemment  to  suppress. 
To  this  couittil  of  the  Creeks,  their  neighbours,  the  l/Aac«> 

E 


^> 


10 


BISTamiCAl  SKETCHJBS 


I 


tBupm,  iiie  Chiekasmps,  and  the  Cherokees,  yrere  invited, 
wfii,  iC  tiie  delijlierationg  of  such  a  cenventioD,  should  be 
«p^liieiicc4  by  the  eUtiioiH  evklently  produced  by  the  late 
aiVi^peBpes  of  their  northern  red  brothers,  the  wmde  fron- 
tier i&om  Tenessee,  to  the  bay  of  mobile,  and  all  the  aet> 
tiements  between  Georgia  ana  the  Miesi^ppi,  and  T^es- 
MA  Mid  Florida,  wonla  be  aubject  to  their  depredations. 
Tne  Seminales,  a  tribe  attached  to  the  Creek  nation,  were 
idy  at  war  with  the  white  people  on  the  borders  of 
l^lOEJda,  and  had  sMudeced  sevviai  citizens  on  the 
^  eo^lia  side  of  tlie  St  Mary^s.  The  s«?ne  hatchet  which 
is  raised  by  one  of  a  chain  of  tribes,  linked  together  by 
qommont  .or  confed^nsated  intemsts,  is  generally  .grasped 
by  ^  The  CiKek*  were  not  dilatory  in  following  an  ex- 
as^ple,  whif^h  they  mi  first  pretended  to  restrain,  aind  ^eir 
Otttniges  surpassed  those  of  any  of  the  northern  nations. 
The  British  availiM  themselves  of  one  of  the  best  har- 
t|tt»  in  ti^  Gulf  of  Mexico,  sent  several  of  their  vessels, 
Uoen  with  the  implements  of  var,  to  Pensacola.  The  com- 
mandant at  St  Marks,  a  small  Spanish  settlement  be- 
tween East  and  West  Florida,  informed  the  chiefs  that 
the  English  would  soon  be  there,  with  gum^  ''  'ves, 
hatchet^  and  ammunition  for  the  red  people,  v  . .« they 
considered  to  be  their  friends.  These  were  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians,  and  they  commenced  me'  hostili- 
ties against  all  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Tenessee 
{^  &(ffSJi»  The  presence  of  an  anny  became  now  ne- 
cessary in  the  south,  and  the  states  there,  were  autho- 
rized to  call  forth  as  many  of  the  militia,  as,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  regulars,  might  be  thought  competent  to 
quell  the  associated  tiibes.  The  Indians  of  the  Creek 
nation,  are  not  subject  to  any  kind  of  restraint  in  war$ 
tiiey  will  neither  give  nor  receive  quarter,  and  pursue 
DO  other  mode  but  that  which  leads  to  entire  extermina- 
tion. The  force  necessary  to  combat  such  an  enemy,  must 
therefore  be  extensive,  and  the  executives  of  the  duB^ent 
8^te«^  made  every  exertion,  to  arm  and  equip  the  whole 
quota  of  ike  militia. 

.  The  Semirades  had  been  committii^ff  depredati<ma  9f 
|he  moist  daring  nature,  before  they  haH  any  intelligence 
l^om  tMroor&ern  friends;  and  uniting  to  their  forces  a 
number  of  negroes  whom  they  had  captured  at  Florida* 
they  made  frequent  incursions  into  the  state  of  Georgia, 


unc 

nu 

vni 

ber,| 
was! 
tim( 
of 


vited, 
ad  be 
elate 
fren- 
le  actp 
renes- 
itions. 
jWere 
lere  of 
on  the 
wluch 
iier  by 
rasped 

dAeir 
i^tic»i8. 
isthar- 
resselsy 
le  com- 
ent  be- 
fs  that 
*ve8, 
they 
to  the 
Ihostili- 


«t  Tlift  LicTE  wjim. 


^1  >  t: 


)iia  9f 
ice 

Irce^a 
lorida. 
)oi|^a. 


murdered  many  inhabitanti^  add  etitiefl  off  much  vtHbaJk' 
ble  plunder.  Oh  the  night  of  the  11th  of  8epteiii8i»', 
about  twenty  American  t^ps,  principally  of  iii?  Mariliel^, 
under  commaend  of  captain  Williams,  of  that  ctorpSi  #ere 
marching  with  two  wagons  towards  Davis'  Creek.  When 
within  ten  miles  of  their  destination,  they  Were  attacked 
by  a  party  of  Indians  and  negroes,  of  about  50  in  num- 
ber,  with  whom  they  contended  until  every  cartridge' 
was  expended.  Captain  WilliMnsy  in  the  Course  of  that 
time,  received  ei^ht  wounds,  and  was  carried  off  by  two 
of  his  men,  leaving  captain  Fort,  of  the  volunteers,  ^ 
command  the  troops,  and  to  keep  up  the  contest;  but  he 
being  flso  wounded,  and  fin^ne  the  strength  of  the  party 
to  be  diminlshtT^,  retired  in  t£e  biit  manner  he  could, 
and  left  the  Indians  in  pos8es8h>n  of  the  wa|,';ons  and 
teama.  The  mght  was  excessively  dark,  and  di^T^ral  of 
the  men,  who  were  wounded,  had  concealed  thera<ielvef 
in  the  bushes.  On  the  fotlowing  morbing  a  detsuhm^ 
was  sent  from  a  block  house  a  few  n^es  off,  to  wfcieh 
some  of  the  men  had  escaped,  to  examine  tiuv^gin»ifn^. 
They  found  captain  Williams,  with  his  tight  leifiiid  left 
arm  brokeuj  his  left  lee  shot  through  wiSi  one,  and  his 
right  arm  with  three  balls,  and  a  wound  through  the 
lower  part  of  his  body,  (hie  man  was  kUled  and  iTctdped^ 
and  the  whole  number  of  wounded  amounted  to  six.  Th^ 
Indiiuis  destroyed  one  waffim,  but  took  ^e  other  to  carry 
off  their  dead  and  wounded — of  whpm  the  number  was 
much  greater  than  that  of  narines.    Captain  Wil- 

liams languished  for  three       lour  days,  and  ek^ored  4t 
Davis*  Creek. 

On  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  colonel  Newnan,  of 
the  Geor^a  volunteers,  left  PicoUttta,  with  about  117 
men,  for  me  Lotchway  towns.  On  his  third  day^  march, 
when  within  seven  miles  of  the  first  of  those  towns,  he 
was  met  by  a  body  of  about  150  Indians,  all  of  whom 
were  mounted.  Ims  meeting  was  very  unexpected  to 
the  Indians;  but  they  immediately  dismountea,  formed 
a  line  of  battle,  and  marched  a  few  jpaces  in  advance. 
Thi#  movement  was  intended  to  intimidate  the  Greoi> 
gians;  but  colonel  Newnan  pp*ve  orders  for  the  charge, 
and  determined  to  put  an  e  >  the  encounter,  by  en- 
tirely subduing  the  Indiai  .  putting  them  to  flight. 
The  oattle  ground  was  situated  midst  a  number  of  ^amps. 


HISTORICAI.  SK£TCH£S 


which  bonnded  three  of  its  sides.  The  Indians  remained 
firm  until  the  Georgians  had  advanced  within  fifty  paces 
of  their  line,  when  they  fled  to  these  swamps  ^or  safety. 
The  whole  of  the  musketry  being  fired  at  them  with 
precision,  made  great  execution,  and  among  others,  kill- 
ed their  leader,  MXng  Faine,  His  tribe,  on  hearing  of  his 
fall,  were  resolved  on  rescuing  his  bod^  from  their  ene- 
my; and  returned  to  the  action  for  that  purpose^  Seve- 
ral charges  were  now  mad«»  and  the  Indians  constantly 
driven  back,  until  at  length,  they  resolved  on  one  despe- 
late  effort,  and  recoverine  all  meir  strength  and  spints, 
made  a  push  against  the  Geor^ans,  which,  thou^  it  was 
received  with  steadiness,  could  not  be  resisted  with  much 
vigour.  The  Indians  obtained  the  body  of  king  Paine, 
|ave  up  the  conflict,  which  had  now  lasted  upwards  of 
rour  hours,  and  carried  off  iheir  killed  and  wounded,  sup- 
posed to  be  between  20  and  30.  In  the  course  of  the 
day,(the  Indians  were  reinforced  from  their  towns,  by 
other  Indians  and  negroes ;  and  renewed  the  action,  which 
they  kept  up  with  the  greatest  obstinacy,  until  the  volun- 
teers compelled  them  again  to  retreat.  Their  force  in 
the  second  attack,  was  upwards  of  200,  but  they  were 
repulsed  with  liearly  the  samo  loss  as  in  the  first;  whilst 
the  volunteers'  loss,  in  both,  was  but  1  killed,  and  9 
wounded. 

Colonel  Newnan's  situation,  was  becoming  extremely 
hazardous;  the  enemy's  numbers  were  hourly  increas- 
ing, and  tiiey  began  to  surround  him  on  all  sides ;  he 
therefore  threw  up  a  small  breastwork,  from  which  he 
was  determined  to  defend  himself  until  his  troops  should 
be  reinforced  also.  He  had  already  despatched  expresses, 
to  procure  additional  numbers.  His  wounded  men  ren- 
dered him  unable  to  retreat  or  to  advance;  and  he  re- 
pelled every  assault  which  was  made  upon  this  little 
work,  until  the  4th  day  of  October.  The  Indians  were 
continually  harassing  him,  day  and  nisht;  and  finding 
they  could  make  no  impression  on  his  Fortification,  ^^sy 
glutted  their  insatiable  vengeance,  by  shooting  ah  his 
horses.  On  the  4th,  a  perfect  silence  prevailed  within 
.colonel  Newnan's  camp,  and  the  Indians  suspected  from 
that,  and  the  circumstance  of  their  fire  not  tiaMn^  been 
returned  the  day  preceding,  thai  he  had  deserted  it  m  the 
night.   Under  this  assurance,  they  approached  the  works. 


•F  THB  Jikm  WJJU 


58 


without  anj  ih(mg|it  of  opposition,  until  the  j  were  within 
forty  paces  of  then,  when  the  Georgian  troops  suddiiilT 
showed  themsehres*  compelled  the  Indians  to  retreat  wim 
precipitation,  and  after  several  rapid  dischuiges  of  mns^ 
ketry,  killed  and  wounded  about  SO  warriors  more.  They 
then  decamped,  without  being  molested,  and  were  8ti»» 
tioned  about  10  miles  oS,  en  the  Fieolaita  road,  where 
they  were  oblig^  to  await  the  arrival  of  fresh  horses  «Bd 
provisions.  In  his  account  of  this  affidr^  colonel  Newntti 
gives  great  credit  to  every  volunteer  of  his  ctetachment; 
and  their  intrepid  conduct,  as  well  as  his  judicious  w^ 
rangements,  served  to  cive  a  check  to  the  combmed  red 
and  black  warriors,  wfaioi  promised  aecnitT,  to  the  neif^* 
beurhood  at  least,  until  larfcer  foroei  should  be  organixed. 
Besides  the  loss  of  EUng  Paint,  the  iiidians  had  tln-ee  of 
the  principal  chiefs  and  thek*  young  governor  slain;  and 
Bow4eg8,  their  second  in  command,  severely  wounded* 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Organhfatim  ofth^^fbrthitfestetn  Jrfnif^S;8  di^miH&H 
-^Command  given  to  General  Harrison'--lhfence  of 
FoH  Hatrism-^-^ege  of  Fori  Waijne^^BxpedUion 
against  the  Indian  towns, 

Imi«ediat£ly  after  the  surrendet  of  th^  garrisons 
at  Michitiinackindc,  Chicago,  and  Detroit,  measure 
were  adopted  for  the  or^a^^tion  ttid  equipment  of  a, 
new  arm^.  An  offer  had  been  made  to  receive  f otQf»- 
teers  into  the  service,  from  the  stiftes  and  tminteries  in 
the  fieighbourhood  of  Miehisafi;  and  they  came  fisrward 
with  an  aldcriih^  which  made  it  un^iicessary  to  held  eut 
alliu^ments.  The  recovery  ef  th^  sUrreudeted  territory, 
and  the  re-estabHshment  of  its  ^rmet'  tivU  sovernm^ttt, 
^erethe  strong  iliotives,  which  induced  stf^  the  brave^ 
IM  natriotic  lUenj  \A  its  vkinlty,  to  iskt  up  arniAi  mni 
march  against  th«  invaders,  "the  i&I^U^Mb  U  tM  tfinrl- 
tory,  weire  now  gote^ed  hj  an  au^ri^,  t^  rigithmt  to 


54 


HI890BI0AL  SKETCHES 


be  compatible  with  those  notions  of  liberty  inspired  bf  the 
genius  of  their  own  constitution,  and  they  were  awaiting 
me  expected  succour  from  their  friends,  with  the  deepest 
anxiety. 

^  The  new  army  was  in  readiness  almost  instantly,  the 
different  corpa  concentrated  with  unprecedented  celerity, 
and  by  the  early  part  of  September,  (1812,)  their  disposi- 
tion was  com|rfeted.  Two  thousand  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, under  brieadier  general  Crooks,  left  Pittsbureh  for 
the  shores  of  lake  Erie;  general  Tupper's  brigade  of  Ohio 
volcmteers,  was  to  ftttttce  the  road  which  had  oeen  formed 
by  the  fk^t  army, from  Urt)anna  to  the  Rapids;  and  a  bri- 
gade of  Virginians,  when  they  should  arrive,  under  eeneral 
Leftwhich,  was  to  pursue  the  same  route.  General  Payne'ft 
brigade  of  Kentucky  volunteers,  the  first  of  the  present 
army  which  was  in  readiness,  and  the  17th  United  States' 
renment,  under  colonel  Wells,  were  to  proceed  to  fort 
Way^e,  and  descend  to  the  Ranids,  of  the  Miami  of  the 
lakes,  which  place  was  assignea  for  tlie  general  rendez- 
vous. 

l^e  command  of  thie  second  northwestern  army  was 
jS^ven  by  the  unanimous  wishes  of  the  troops  composing 
it,  to  general  W.  H.  Harrison;  the  immediate  command  of 
the  Kentucky  troops  under  general  Pa3me,  devolved  on 
him,  by  his  being  breveted  a  major  general  by  the  gover- 
nor of  that  state. 

Forts  Harrison  and  Wayne  were  at  this  time  garrisoned 
only  by  a  few  regulars  and  volunteers ;  numerous  British 
and  Indian  forces,  had  already  marched  from  Maiden,  to 
Jhy  waste  the  Ohio  frontier,  and  the  latter  post  would  na- 
turally be  their  leading  point.  G«n0iral  Harrison  there- 
fore immediately  marched  to  its  relief,  with  Payne's 
brigade  and  the  regulars.  Tlie  former  post  (fort  Harri- 
son)'was  invested  on  the  dd  of  September,  by  ike  Pro- 
phet's party  from  the  Wabash.  On  the  night  of  the  4th, 
^y  set  £re  to  one  of  the  block-houses,  containing  the 
cpntractor's  property,  and  followed  up  that  act,  by  a  re- 
.  solute  attack  nmn  the  fort  The  garrison  was  command- 
!ed  h^  captain  Z.  Taylor,  of  the  fth  U.  S.  infantry,  and 
consisted  of  only  18  effective  men.  The  flames  were ' 
raging— the  Indians,  about  300  in  number,  howlins  in 
their  usual  horrid  manner,  and  the  women  and  children 


4% 


■^ 


isoned 


■'K 


Ot  THE  LATE  IVAB. 


55 


of  the  bafracks,  looking  up  to  captain  Taylor,  and  implor- 
ing from  him  that  protection,  which  they  could  scarcely 
expect  to  receive.  When  the  block'-house  should  be  entirely 
consumed,  a  large  entrance  would  be  open  to  the  enemy; 
no  efforts  had  yet  succeeded  to  extinguish  the  Qre,  its  as- 
cendency baffled  every  attempt,  and  the  men  themselves 
began  to  despond.  Two  of  the  stoutest  jumped  over  the 
picquets,  with  the  hope  of  escaping  in  the  darK;  but  one  of 
them  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  scalped,  and  the  o^er  return- 
ed with  hi^  arm  broken,  and  implored  to  be  re-admitted 
into  the  fort.  Und^r  these  discouraging  circumstance^, 
captain  Taylor  never  suffered  his  presence  df  mind  to 
forsake  him;  and  apfrfying  the  only  resource  nowle£thim» 
he  ordered  ^  small  party  te  dislodge  the  roof  of  the  house, 
so  that  it  mi^t  fall  in  the  space,  whilst  a  few  men  in  ano- 
ther house,  were  to  keep  up  a  continual  fire  upon  the  In- 
dians. His  plan  succeedea— the  men  became  confident 
in  their  exeilions,  and  a  breastworlgl^vas  formed  under  a 
heavy  shower  of  bullets,  along  the  cavity  which  the  de- 
struction 0^  the  block-hcuse^  produced.  A  desperate  de- 
fence w.;:^  n'  v  made,  and  a  constant  and  rapid  fire  kept  up 
until  6  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  5th.  Several  furious 
assaults  had  been  repulsed;  and  the  Indians,  at  the  ap- 
proach of  day,  judginff  the  number  of  the  garrison  to  be 
greater  than  it  actually  was,  retired  with  a  quantity  of 
captured  cattle,  after  haying  shot  all  the  horses  belonging 
to  the  fort  Doctor  Clarke  was  the  mosit  indefatigable  man 
in  the  engagement,  and  captain  Taylor's  good  conduct  was 
so  highl}r  applauded,  that  the  president  soon  after  pro- 
moted him  to  a  majority.  Two  men  only  were  killed, 
'.vith  the  exception  of  the  deserter,  and  one  wounded.  The 
Indians  always  carry  off  their  dead,  unless  iheir  numbers 
are  too  small ;  and  their  loss  is  seldom  ascertained  witii- 
Qut  ereat  difficulty.  All  the  provisions  were  consumed 
by  the  fire,  and  the  garrison  compelled  to  subsist  on  green 
corn,  until  reinforcements  should  come  on  with  supplies. 
The  litde  band,  which  was  now  reduced  to  14  men,  re- 
paired the  dam^es  sustfdned  by  the  fort,  and  constructed 
•a  strong  fortification  across  the  space.  The  bastions  were 
all  put  m  the  best  state  of  defence,  and  every  precaution 
adopted  to  sustun  a  second  assault  To  the  great  joy 
of  tne  garrisonr  however,  colonel  William  Russel  arrived 


56 


^HlgTOAICAL  SS^^ETCHES 


about  th<^  i6fh,  from  Illinois,  with  600  mounted  ranged, 
And  500  infantry;  and  fort  Harrison  became  sufficiently 
manned,  to  resist  the  attack  of  a  much  larger  bod}  of  the 
Prophet's  warrriors. 

The  situ»iomt)f  fort  Wajrne  was  now  mo^e  ftri^cal, 
fhau  that  of  any  other  fortress  in  the  west  The  I  dims, 
who  had  proceeded  from  the  battle  ground  of  0*»ica^, 
were  afterwards  reinforced  by  those  from  Maldei»  and 
they  laid  dege  to  this  ^y^ess  in  very  large  numbers. 
The  troops  in  garrison,  amounted  to  s:^yet4y.  On  th<e 
night  of  the  5th  of  September,  the  Indians  commenced 
ah  attack ;  they  fired  principally  u|ion  the  sentinels,  but 
did  iio  injury.  Oki  ihe  6th,  several  of  the  men  went  out- 
of  the  s<mth  gate  of  the  foit,  but  had  not  proceeded  more 
thiM  seventy  paces,  wh»n  two  of  them  were  killed,  and 
by  the  exertions  of  their  companions,  thdr  bodies  were 
c^nrried  into  the  ibrt»  to  protect  them  against  stLMo^  m- 
dignities.  Durins  CIb  night  another  attack  was  made  by 
the  whole  force  c?  the  Indians,  and  when  they  apv-roach- 
ed  the  fort,  it  was  confidently  expected  they  woult-  scale 
the  Works  $  but  the  iccc'Sdant  fire  of  the  garrison,  com- 
ptWt^  them  to  abandon  their  design.  What  thiiy  could 
not  do  by  force,  they  then  attempted  by  straiigem.  Re^ 
sort  v/a&  haMl  to  all  kinds  of  artifice,  and  they  at  length 
brou^t  up  two  wooden  pieces,  which  they  had  contrived 
ih  imitation  of  cannon,  ti>  persuade  the  garrison,  that  the 
British  ha'*  supplied  them  with  battering  pieces,  to  re- 
duce  the  plM^*  Tliese  wefe  brought  upj  and  one  of 
their  chiefs  thteatened  to  batter  down  th''.  walls,  'iKless 
the  troops  would  immediately  capitulate;  or  to  {:torm 
them  on  the  following  day,  when  tiiey  would  be  reinforced 
by  700  other  warriors.  In  three  dajs  they  menaced  an 
entiie  massacre;  but  the  troops  m  fort  Wayne,  still 
hoping  that  it  would  be  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  the  ex- 
pected volunteers,  resolved  to  hold  out,  until  every  arti- 
cle of  provi  jion  should  be  exhausted.  No  other  atten.v^<ff 
were  made  upon  the  fort,  until  the  9th,  when  a  firing  wk2 
ecmmenced,  and  continued  at  intervals  all  day,  but  with- 
out dofflg  any  damage.  On  the  succeeding  day,  they  be- 
gan their  wur  whoops  renewed  their  fire,  imd  wtni  ^in 
unbuccessful.  Not  a  man  was  killed  in  ant  of  fheir  at- 
t^ks;  the  only  wounds  which  they  ihflioteo,  bdftg  upon 


ciehtly 
of  the 

critical, 
dims, 

!  i»  and 

On  the 
menced 
sis,  tmt 
6nt  out- 
d  more 
3d,  and 
rs  were 

lade  by 
^-roach- 
k'  scale 
\r.  com- 
y  could 
1.    Re- 
length 
trived 
at  the 
w)  Fe- 
me of 
1  'ifiless 
{:totin 
Iforced 
led  an 
i,  still 
Iheex- 

jn.v^'*^ 

[with- 
Wbe- 
l^in 
lir  at- 
lunon 


or  THE  LATE  VAB. 


57 


those,. ivho  ventured  without  the  fort.  On  the  evening  of 
the  l^lli,  general  Harrison's  forces  reached  the  garrison, 
and  the  whole  Indian  body  precipitately  fled.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  troops  at  that  place,  Loffa%  (who  will  be 
spoken  of  hereafter,)  went  forward  wim  about  700  men, 
raised  an  Indian  yell,  and  pursued  the  retreating  tribes. 
This  ugnal.  was  answered  by  them,  at  the  distance  of  only 
150  yards;  but  the  intervention  of  the  river,  and  several 
other  obstacles,  prevented  the  pursuit  being  attended  with 
effect. 

The  depredations  which  they  had  committed  aboul; 
the  fort,  were  as  inhuman  as  they  were  extensive.  All 
the  stoek  upon  the  neighbouring  farms  was  destroyed;  the 
com,  all  the  small  gram,  and  every  house  burned;  and  all 
tile  horses  and  catue  killed.  The  Indian  agent,  Stephen 
Johnson,  was  murdered,  and  his  body  treated  with  shocks' 
ing  indecency;  and  every  act,  indicative  of  nvage  ven- 
geance was  committed. 

The  approach  of  the  regulars  and  volunteers,  prevent- 
ed, perhaps,  the  destruction  of  the  fields  at  a  greater  duh 
tance,  and  secured  a  supply  of  Indian  com  for  the  garri- 
son. But  the  great  augmentation  of  the  troops,  made  it 
necessary  to  obtain  supplies  of  other  provisions,  £rom  the 
towns  ^i  those  tribes,  which  had  been  so  active  in  de- 
stroying what  the  farms  mi^t  have  afforded.  It  was  now 
hi^  time,  too,  to  make  tlie  Indians  feel  those  effects  of 
the  war,  which  their  repeated  cruelties  had  provoked;  and 
to  convince  them,  that  the  American  troops  were  not  so 
contemptible  and  degraded,  as  they,  the  Indians,  might 
conclude  them  to  be  from  the  surrender  of  the  late  coin- 
tnander  in  chief,  on  the  same  station.  General  Harrison, 
therefore,  divided  his  forces  into  scouting  parties,  under 
command  of  his  most  active  officers.  Several  expeditions 
were  sent  forward,  against  the  Indian  settlements,  and 
some  expectations  entertained,  that  they  might  be  drawn 
into  battle.  But  they  did  not  betray  the  same  willing- 
ness to  combat  these  corps,  which  they  had  heretofore 
shown  to  encounter  otiiers.  The  Kentuckians  were  held 
in  great  dread,  by  most  of  the  Indian  warriors,  and  the 
expression  of  "  Kentuc  too  muchf'*  has  not  unfrequently 
accompanied  their  orders  to  retreat. 

On  the  14th  September,  geppral  Harrison  despatched 


«B 


HISTO&ICAL  8K£¥C»&9 


colonel  Wells,  with  hk  own,  and  colonel  Seott's  regi* 
ments,  and  SOO  mounted  nflemen,  with  instructions  to 
DFoceed  up  the  river  St.  Joseph,  which,  With  the  St 
Mary's  forms  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes,  and  to  destroy  the 
Potawatomie  towns  at  Elk  Hart.  Another  detachment^ 
consisting  of  colonels  Allen  and  Lewis'  regiments,  and 
captain  (^mrard's  troop,  under  command  of  general  Payne, 
but  which  the  commander  in  cldef  accompanied,  proceed- 
ed on  Hie  same  day  to  the  destruction  of  the  Miami 
towns,  on  the  forks  of  the  Wabash.  The  oli^ect  of  each 
expedition  was  accomplished  without  opposition,  the  In- 
dians M  those  tribes  having  abandoned  their  viilaces,  and 
the  different  detachments  returned  to  the  fort  on  m6 18th. 

General  Winchester,  of  the  United  States  army,  tep- 
lived  at  fort  Wayne,  immediately  after  the  eitpeditkrtl 
aigaiast  the  Indkm  villages,  and  tli^  command  ^f  the  de- 
taushmenta  under  general  Payne  and  colonel  Well%  was 
resigned  to  him,  in  obedience  to  the  Orders  of  the  war  de> 
pAft-tment  The  volunteers,  who  had  centred  all  their  af- 
leetionB  in  the  person  of  the  commander  of  their  choice, 
were  not  satisfied  with  this  change,  until  general  Ham- 
son  reminded  them  of  the  revomtionary  servit^s  of  hfe 
successor,  and  communicated  to  them  the  ms^iictions 
iVom  the  department,  confirming  him  in  the  command  e^ 
ikU  ttie  troops,  but  those  which  were  assigned  to  general 
Winchester. 

The  strength  of  this  army  was  continually  augmenting. 
Vdunteer  associations^  to  a  greater  number  than  it  was 
politic  to  receive  into  the  service,  were  in  the  same  day, 
formed,  equipped,  and  ready  to  march  against  the  ene- 
my, and  a  selection  was  made  from  among  them,  of  such 
a  force  as  was  at  that  time  required,  in  conjunction  with 
the  troops  which  had  already  marched,  to  make  the  army 
complete.  But  such  was  the  patriotic  impetuosity  of  the 
western  people,  that  many  of  the  corps  who  were  not  ^r- 
tunate  enou^  to  be  received,  immediately  provided  them- 
selves at  their  own  expense,  and  insisted  upon  accompa- 
nying their  fellow  citizens  to  the  field. 

The  siege  of  fort  Wayne  having  been  raised  by  the 
Indians,  it  now  entered  into  the  views  of  the  two  gene- 
rals to  march  forces  to  the  relief  of  the  intermediate  gar^ 
risons  between  that  place  and  Detroit,  against  which  an 


S€oti*s  fegiL 
tructions  t6 
'ith  the  St. 

destroy  the 
letachmen^ 
iihentg,  and 
leral  Pajne, 
9d,  proceed- 
the  Miami 
ect  of  each 
f>B,  the  In- 
Alaceg,  and 
» the  18th. 

army,  m^ 
expeditfem 
<>f  the  de- 
^eHsj  wag 
b  war  d«. 
n  their  af- 
sir  choice, 
nd  Harri- 
ees  of  h^ 
»^*wcti<aift 
Btiiaadof 
ogenwal 

fsaentin^. 
SB  it  Was 
ame  day, 
the  ene- 
of  such 
ion  with 
he  army 
tyofthe 
not  f^r- 
sd  them^ 
:compa^ 

by  the 
»  gene- 
ite  gai^ 
\ikh  an 


,  i 


^o*  every  nee 
reatest  possiWe 

rore  advanced  to  fortfilfi'*""  ^^eral  Winch^rf^iilTk  "*'' 
fixed  his  h«Jl         .    "efiance,  whilaf  ^     "^•pf  there- 

&merXst  l21if^**  St.  i&rjlf  £f''l'F«»^Bon 

fiance  mm2^\  '^  ^^^^^^  ^^^'^  ^ 
ber  /iflVow?^"  *»  about  2000     a«^^®^  ^w  fort  Be. 

*«ye»U^'*ei^rj^vT^*  *^  foe  wffi,i»«?»r. 
twenty  Dace.  /2  .L*?  *»»*».  at  the  ^L""**  *•"•«*  «p 
were  pSS  t  '^''  *^  *^  »o1b^*  *»«S»  %ett 

the  niahf  „f  *L  "''j??*"wi9  youSe  Z^^  "**'  entirely 

ed.  kiUed.  trr&*  r  ^^f^-^H  were  ovt''  *^"»- 
-•«  manner  oftlfe,^.  -^iped  « '^^^1"^: 

»f  the  state  ov^S  h  *"'  ^»"t«Uon  of  .h  ""'?.""''i» 

k-jfed  .t  tte  leg.  <,fis?v^f,«".  *" "«  «r,s;?rcj 


60 


'HISTOl^CAL  SKETCHES 


On  the  27th,  captain  Ballard,  who  was  distinguished  in 
that  army  for  his  courage  and  prudence,  was  ordered  to 
go  out  with  his  company  of  spies,  supported  by' forty  of 
Garrard's  dragoons,  ana  bury  the  boaies  of  tne  young 
men,  whose  fate  was  now  ascertained  in  camp.  When 
within  about  two  miles  of  the  spot  where  tiiey  nad  fallen, 
Ballard  discovered  an  Indian  ambuscade ;  but  as  he  had 
marched  liis  men  in  two  divisions,  placing  one  on  each 
side  of  an  Indian  trace,  through  which  the  enemy  sup* 
posed  the  volunteers  would  advance,  the  ambuscade  be- 
came useless,  and  the  Indians  succeeded  in  ffaining  an 
eminence:  .whilst  they  were  forming,  captain  Ballard 
gave  them  a  ^lling'^'re,  which  they  immeaiately  return- 
ed, accompanied  by  a  loud  and  terrific  yell.  Ballard  or* 
dered  up  the  horse,  and  chained  upon,  and  put  them  to 
the  rout.  Pursuit  was  given,  but  the  enemy  knew  the 
country  better  than  the  dragoons,  and  escaped  into  the 
swamp  and  thickets,  with  the  loss  of  4  or  5  wounded. 
No  injury  of  consequence  enough  to  name  was  sustained 
by  the  volunteers. 

On  the  28th,  Ballard's  spies  were  again  sent  forward, 
and  discovered  a  fresh  trail  of  Indians.  On  communi- 
cating which  to  the  general,  he  ordered  20  troopers  to 
cross  the  river,  to  ascertain  whether  the  wagons  could 
pass,  and  on  finding  a  tolerable  ford,  the  whole  army 
crossed  about  five  mues  above  fort  Defiance,  aad  encamp- 
ed on  its  bank.  At  100  yards  from  the  edge  of  the  river,' 
another  trail  was  discovered,  when  captain  Garrard  was 
despatched,  with  20  of  his  troop,  to  proceed  and  ascer- 
tain by  whom  it  was  made.  Tnree  miles  below  general 
Winchester's  encampment,  and  two  miles  above  fort  De- 
fiance, the  enemy  were  observed  to  be  encamped  in  large 
numbers,  with  war  poles  erected,  and  the  bloody  flag 
flying.  When  the  army  commenced  its  march  from  fort 
Wayne,  the  troops  were  provided  with  six  day's  rations 
only;  but  colonel  Jennin&'s  regiment  was  to  meet  them 
with  provisions  at  fort  Defiance.  At  a  certain  point  on 
the  Miuxf  Glaixe,  the  colonel  was  directed  to  halt,  and 
erect  a  block  house,  which  having  done,  he  ascertained  by 
his  spies,  that  the  British  and  Indians  were  encamped  near 
the  tort,  and  without  reinforcements  it  would  have  been 
knprudent  to  have  proceeded  fiirther.  Late  on  the  ni^t 
of  the  29thy  he  therefore  forwarded  an  express  to  general 


'v'k^ 


■'¥^''W 


■' ■» 


'■■-.■>?♦' 


ov  THB  LATB  mm* 


61 


Winchetter,  to  make  known  his  skuatioiii  40  mflen  abore 
fori  Defiance;  and  as  tKe  troops  were  Aow  nearly  stani»> 
inff,  captfun  Garrard  pi'oceeded  with  g^t  despleli  to 
colonel  Jennings  regiment,  to  escort,  wltii  his  aragooMi 
a  brigade  of  paekhorses  with  povisions  for  ^ir  reliei^ 
and  effected  a  hazardous  tour  in  dG.hours,  thon^  all  thai 
time  drenched  with  incxseaffit  nun. 

General  Winchester  seeing  that  his  force  was  f»  mfe* 
rijir  to  thaft  of  the  newly  discovered  enemy,  and  findhig 
himself  in  their  immediate  vicinity^  despatched  expressei 
toi  general  Harrison  at  the  St«  Mary^  to  obtain  iw&fetce- 
ments,  and  to  apprise  him  of  the  sitiHrtion  of  the  left  wtn|^ 
Expecting  the  required  relief  in  afieiv  da^ 'he  piit  his 
encampment  in  a  utate  of  defence,  by  Ibrafyihg  kimself 
on  the  front  and  sides,  and  kept  out  reconnoitring  pa»> 
ties,  who  were  to  communicate  with  him,  the  moment  the 
enemy  should  come  out  to  attack  him.  Chi  the  o^er  haoie^ 
the  enemy  had  possession  of  Ibrt  Defiance»  and  were 
pairing  and  enlarging  its  armament* 


CHAPTER  V. 


large 
flag 
fort 


■(>!* 


The  British  evacuate  F&rt  Defance-^Iktsth  ofLogaKHf^ 
Battle  on  the  Miesissinewor-^The  l^  wing  ofthearm^ 
moves  from  Fort  Defiance  to  the  Mapids^JSxcuraion 
of  Hie  JSCentticky  brigade  into  Indiana, 

General  Harrisok,  on  receiving  general  Winches^ 
tar's  despatch,  immediately  began  his  march  with  general 
Tupper'S  mounted  men,  and  arrived  at  the  encampment 
near  Defiance,  when  he  moved  forward  with  the  whc^e 
force  to  attack  that  fort  But  the  British  and  Indians 
had  evacuated  it,  as  soon  as  they  heard  of  his  approach, 
and  taking  away  the  cannon  with  which  they  had  in^^ 
creased  the  armament,  proceeded  down  the  Miami  to  the 
Rapids.  The  mounted  men  were  ordered  to  pursue  the 
retreating  enemy,  and  to  destroy  ^ir  encampment  at  that 
place;  and  general  Harrison  lert  fort  De&ince«  on  the  5th, 
(October)  to  join  the  right  wing  of  the  army*  and  to  oeiw 

F 


6S 


M 


mSTOmCkt,  SKETCHES 


centrate  the  whole  at  ^he  appointed  rendezvous,  at  the 
Miami  of  tiie  Lakes.  After  his  departure,  ^neral  Win- 
chester countermanded  the  order  to  general  Tupper,  and 
the  expedition  against  the  Indians  at  the  Rapids,  was  con- 
sequently frustrated.  Until  the  contemplated  concentra^ 
.Hon  could  be  effected,  no  movement  could  be  made  which 
.would  promote  the  ultimate  object  of  the  campaign,  and 
the  troops  at  fort  Defiance,  which  now  assumed  the  name 
of  fort  Winchester,,  remained  in  that  garrison  until  the 
14th  of  December  (1 812). 

In  this  interval,  Logarit  with  about  30  friendl;^  Indians, 
attempted  to  examine  the  movementi)  and  situation  of  the 
enemy  on  the  Miami,  where  his  party  was  discovered  and 
dispersed.  Logan  and  6  of  them  returned,  the  remain- 
der escaped  in  another  direction. 

On  the  ^Qd  of  November,  he  was  again  ordered  by 
general  Winchester,  to  take  two  Indians  (Bright-Horn 
and  Capt  John),  and  go  forward  to  make  discoveries. 
Early  in  the  day,  they  were  met  and  captured  by  captain 
Elliot,  son  of  tne  Bntish  colonel  of  that  name,  ana  the 
celebrated  hostile  chief,  Wynenutck,  and  a  party  of  4  In- 
dians. Logan  resorted  to.  a  slratagem,  by  which  he  ner- 
»vLa.ded  Wynemacky  that  he  had  come  to  join  him,  ana  he 
and  his  two  men,  were  therefore,  allowed  to  carry  their 
arms  and  inarch  in  front.  Logan  having  communicated 
to  his  comrades  his  determination  to  rescue  himself  or 
perish  in  the  effort,  they  suddenly  turned  upon  their  ene- 
my on  the  first  opportunity,  and  each  brouglit  his  man  to 
tHe  STOund;  Wynemack  being  among  them.  The  remain- 
ing mree  fii'ed  in  return,  shot  Logan  and  Bright-Horn, 
the  former  in  the  breast,  and  immediately  retired.  Logan 
exchanged  the  shot,  notwithstanding  the  severity  of  his 
wound,  and  both  he  and  Bright-Horn,  mounted  the 
horses  of  Wynemack  and  Elliot,  (whilst  Capt  John  pro- 
tected their  retreat,)  and  returned  to  fort  Winchester. 
jOn  the  28th«  Logan  died  with  the  firmness  of  a  soldier, 
sincerely  regretted  by  the  whole  garrison,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  he  was  t^uried  with  every  mark  of  distinction. 

At  Franklinton,  general  Harrison  was  actively  em- 
ployed in  forwarding  ammunitipn,  pieces  of  ordnance, 
ordnance  stores,  provisions,  &c.  and  arranging  depots  for 
^eir  reception,  on  the  road  designated  for  tne  march  of 
the  right  wing  of  the  tivmy*    On  tlie  18th  of  November, 


P 


0U8,  at  the 
neral  Win- 
'upper,  and 
is,  was  con- 
1  concentrap 
made  which 
npaign,  and 
sd  the  name 
on  until  the 

idly  Indians, 
aation  of  the 
icQvered  and 
the  remain- 
ordered  by 
Bright'Htym 
discoveries, 
d  by  cantain 
ime,  ana  the 
tarty  of  4  In- 
irhich  he  per- 
him,  and  he 
carrjr  their 
immunicated 
himself  or 
>n  their  ene- 
It  his  man  to 
le  remain- 
h-ight-Horrif 
Ired.  Logan 
[erity  of  his 
\ounted  the 
\tJohn  pro- 
Winchester. 
|f  a  soldier, 
(the  vicinity 
»tinction. 
:tively  em- 
'  ordnance, 
depots  for 
|ie  march  of 
iNovember, 


» 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


63 


he  sent  lieut.  col.  J.  B.  Campbell  with,  a  detachment  of 
600  men,  on  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  of  the 
Miami  tribes,  tesidinffin  the  Mississinewa  towns.  On  the 
momins  of  the  17th  December,  the  detachment  c  aived 
on  the  first  of  those  towns,  drove  ^e  Indians  across  the 
Mississinewa  river,  killed  7  warriors,  and  took  37  prison- 
ers.   During  this  contest  a  part  of  the  detachment  was 
sent  to  the  other  towns,  which  being  already  evacuated  by 
the  inhabitants,  were  immediately  destroyed,  and  the  de- 
tachment returned  to  the  ground  first  occupied.    On  the 
morning  of  the  1 8th,  at  daylight,  the  camp  was  attacked 
by  a  number  of  Indians,  of  the  Mfiami  and  Delaware 
tribes,  amounting  to  about  300.    The  attack  commenced 
on  the  right  of  me  line,  which  was  occupied  by  major 
BalPs  squadron  of  iiorse,  who  ^Uantly  contended  against 
them  for  one  hour,  and  sustained  ^li^Sit  the  whole  con- 
flict.  The  Indians  then  fell  back,  and  Were  courageously 
chained  by  captain  Trotter  at  the  head  of  his  company 
of  I^ntucky  dragoons.    In  this  charge  captain  Trotter 
was  wounded  in  the  hand:  the  Indians  fled  with  great 
velocity,  and  were  pursued  as  far  as  was  thought  prudent. 
Captain  Pierce,  of  the  Zanesville  troop,  was  killed  in  the 
act  of  charging.    Lieutenant  Waltz  was  shot  through  the 
arm,  but  l^ing  resolved  on  losing  no  share  of  honour,  he 
remounted  his  norse,  and  in  that  act  was  killed  by  a  shot 
throu^i  the  head.  He  was  of  the  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
Captams  Markle  and  M'Clelland  of  the  same  corps,  and 
captains  Garrard  and  Hopkins  were  complimented  by  the 
commanding  general.  Lieutenant  colonel  Simmerall,  ma- 
ioc  McDowell,,  and  captains  Hite  and  Smith,  are  said  to 
have  gallantly  distinguished  tliemselves;  and  the  whole 
detachment,  after  exhibiting  throu^out  a  great  degree  of 
patience,  fortitude  and  coolness,  rendered  the  victory  moi'e 
honourable  to  the  American  arms,  by  respecting  the  high 
and  inestimable  principles  of  humanity,  and  rendering 
them,  as  ihej  ever  ou^t  to  be,  inseparable  from  bravery. 
The  general's  orders,  on  their  departure,  were  to  that 
eflecC  and  the  most  rigid  obedience  was  pud  to  ^em. 
The  battle  being  ended,  and  the  object  of  ttie  expedition 
completely  accomplished,  colonel  Campbell  commenced 
his  march  for  Greenville  on  his  return,  having  first  for- 
warded an  express  for  reinforcements,  Tecwmseh  being 
reported  to  be  in  the  neighbourhood  with  500  wwrriors, 


'M 


64 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHt:s 


and  the  name  of  Heeumsehhad  now  become  terrible.  If 
tiie  detachment  should  be  intercepted,  an  obstinate  en- 
gagement must  follow,  and  by  the  momine  report  of  the 
S4ui,-dOd  of  the  men  were  rendered  unfit  for  doty,  by 
being  froaUntten;  an  attack  from  a  superior  body  of  In- 
dians could  not  therefore  be  sustained  with  any  prospect 
of  success.  The  detachment  reached  Greenville,  however, 
without  being  once  molested,  andjhe  citizois  received  the 
troops  with  marks  of  admiration  and  gratitude.  In  the 
destruction  of  the  first  town,  the  American  loss  was  1 
killed  and  1  wounded  In  the  action  of  the  following 
morning,  8  were  killed  and  25  wounded — ^the  Indian  loss 
in  killed  was  known  to  be  40;  the  number  of  wounded 
could  not  be  ascertained.  '  The  prisoners  were  brought 
away  by  the  detachment  Much  astonishment  was  ex- 
pressed that  tfao  ltl$Mns  did  not  attack  the  detachment  in 
its  retrooFade  movement,  but  tins  circumstance  may  be 
attributed  to  the  loss  of  their  prophet,  who  it  is  supposed, 
was  killed  in  the  second  engagement  . 

Notwithstanding  the  season  was  already  so  far  ad- 
vanced, and  the  difiiculties  in  marching  against  the  ene->' 
my  every  day  increasing^  general  Harnson  was  too  stea- 
dily deurmined  on  the  recovery  of  Michigan,  and  the 
sumugation  of  Maiden  and  the  country  surrounding  it, 
to  De  put  aside  from  his  views  b^  any  such  obstacles. 
Every  implement^  was  provided  wmch  might  possibly  be 
necessary;  the  military  stores  and  trains  of  artillery  were 
already  at  the  different  depots,  and  the  troops  from  Penn- 
sylvama^being  at  Mansfield,  those  from  Virginia  at  Dela<- 
ware,  and  those  from  YMiio  kt  fort  M'Arthur,  the  purposed 
concentration  could  be  almost  immediately  enected.— 
General  Winchester  with  the  left  win^,  moved  from  fort 
Wmchester  to  the  Rapids,  in  conformity  to  the  j^revious 
order  of  general  Harrison,  who  was  now  commissioned 
a  major  general  in  the  ariny  of  the  United  States,  and 
appomted  to  the  command  or  the  northwestern  army.  A 
line  of  posts  was  to  be  established,  aiid  strong  fortifica- 
tions erected,  as  intermediate  places  of  renc&zvous,  at 
equal  distances  between  Defiance  and  Detroit:  and,  that 
he  m^t  with  more  convenience  superintend  the  build- 
ing or  these,  the  commander  in  chief  fixed  his  head  quar- 
ters at  Upper  Sandusky. 

A  brigade  of  Kentuckians  had  been  sent  into  theiln- 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


69 


diana  territory,  under  general  Samuel  Hopkins,  with  in- 
structions to  attack  every  settlement  on  the  Wabash,  and 
then  to  fall  upon  the  Illinois.  On  the  11th  November 
they  marched  from  fort  Harrison,  with  a  view  to  the  de- 
struction of  the  Prophet's  town.  Seven  boats,  with  pro- 
visions, forage  and  military  stores,  comnianded  by  colo- 
nel Barbour,  accompanied  tSie  expedition,  and  the  troops 
marched,  on  the  east  side  of  tiie  Wabash,  to  protect  them, 
until  the  19th,  when  they  reached  the  town,  and  were 
engaged  three  day's  in  tKe  destruction  of  it,  and  a  large 
l&jckapoo  village  adjoining,  while  general  Butler  with 
300  men,  surrounded  and  destroyed  the  Wynebago  town 
on  the  Ponce^assu  creek;  each  of  these  towns  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  Indian  warrkirs,  and  a  small  party  was 
sent  out  to  reconnoitre  tiie  surroundins  woods,  and  to 
seek  out  their  hiding  places. ,  Several  Indians  showed 
themselves,  fired  on  the  party,  killed  one  man,  and  com- 
pelled the  others  to  reture.  This  occurrence  was  no 
sooner  made  known  to  the  troops,  than  60  horsemeii 
offered  to  proceed  to  the  grouna,  to  bury  their  compa- 
nion, and  to  encounter  the  enemy.  When  they  attained 
the  point,  near  the  Indian  encampment,  they  were  fired 
upon  from  an  ambuscade,  and  18  of  the  party  killed  and 
wounded ;  among  them,  several  promising  ycmns  officers. 
The  enemy  had  taken  possession  of  a  strone  defensive 
position,  in  which  there  was  no  hope  of  efl^tui^y  as** 
soling  him,  having  a  deep.rapid  creek,  in  its  rear,  in  the 
form  of  a  semicircle,  and  being  fronted  by  a  hi^  and 
almost  perpendicular  bluff,  of  100  feet,  which  copd  only 
be  penetrated  by  three  steep  ravines.  The  death  of  these 
gallant  young  inen,  excited  a  spirit  of  revenge  among 
ihe  troops,  and  tiiev  moved  forward  under  a  heavy  fall  m 
snow,  determined  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his  strong  hold« 
at  every  risk.  But  on  arriving  at  the  place,  they  found 
that  the  Indians  had  evacuated  it,  and  crossed  m^Ponee- 
passu  on  their  retreat.  There  being  now  no  certain'^oint 
to  which  the  operations  of  the  troops  could  be  directed*  * 
general  Hopkins  gave  orders  for  their  return  to  fcnrt  Har- 
rison, where  they  arrived  after  an  absence  df  16  days* 
having  in  that  time  traveit-sed  100  miles  of  a  country,  of 
which,  to  use  the  words  of  their  commander,  they  had  no 
cognia^ce. 

X  F2 


66 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


CHAPTER  VI. 


i 


I   I 


JtmerUianfcTee^ofn,  the  JViagara  and  8t.  Lawtence^-^n 
affair  upon  the  latter'^Ea;pedition  against  Gananoque 
'-^Bomiardment  of  Ogdmsburg^-^ttack  upon  it^^ 
Diapositipn  of  the  forces  on  the  J^^agara-^Deserip" 
tion  cf  Qhieenstown — Battle  of  Queenstown  Heights^^ 
Death  cf  General  Brock — Defeat  of  the  American 
foreeSf-^Cannonade  between  Fort  George  and  Fort  •Ni- 
agara— Jin  affair  below  Ogdensburg — Pih'  incurs 
^on^into  Canador-^Bonibarament  of  Fort  •/>  garar^ 
Capture  of  the  enemy's  ^^gi^  ^t  8t.  RegiS'^General 
Smyth's  proelamationr-^'fiie  British  batteries  opposite 
Black  Bock  formed  and  carried^-^bandonea  by  the 
Jhnericans,  they  ope^  afire  on  the  battery  at  the  Mock,' 

Whilst  thi^se  events  were  transpiring  in  the  west- 
em  department  of  the  union,  dispositions  had  been  made, 
and  troops  collected  at  the  different  stations  along  the 
Niaeara  river;  from  ihe  lake  Erie  to  the  lake  Ontario; 
andlieyond  the  latter,  alonff  the  shore  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence. M  Excursions  from  the  American  to  the  British 
shores  of  the  rivers,  had  been  frequently  made,  and  on 
some  occasions,  were  followed  by  smart  skirmishes.-— 
The  chief  command  of  ^ese  forces  was  given  to  majpr 
geneml  Dearborn.  The  immediate  command  of  the 
troops  on  the  Niagara,  to  major  general  Van  Rensselaer, 
of  the  militia  of  the  etate  of  New  York.  Brigadier  gene- 
ral Smyth  was  stationed  at  Black  Rock.  The  titrnps  on 
the  St.  Lawrence  were  principally  garrisoned  a,t/(^en8- 
burff,  and  commanded  oy  brigadier  general  Brown,  also 
of  nie  New  York  militia. 

On  the  15th  of  September  (1812),  25  British  boats 
passed  ^iadrid  op  the  St.  Lawrence,  laden  with  military- 
stores  and  munitions  of  war.  About  140  of  the  militia  from 
Ogdensburg  and  Hamilton,  with  one  gun  boat*  posted 


iMt^' 


OV  THE  LATE  WAR. 


m 


themselves  on  an  island  to  obstruct  their  passage.  The 
enemy  approaching  the  head  of  the  river,  brought  himself 
immediately  in  front  of  this  island,  when  a  rapid  and  well 
directed  fire  made  him  ply  for  the  opposite  snore,  where 
he  took  shelter  in  the  woods.  The  militia  had  no  small 
boats  to  pursue  the  flying  squadron,  and  the  British  had 
time  to  rally,  to  procure  acwistance,  and  to  return  to  a 
contest  This  they  did,  with  little  delay,  and  after  an 
action  of  three  hours,  they  were  reinforced  by  two  gun 
boats  and  a  large  body  of  men  from  Prescott.  The  mi* 
litia  beihg  then  outnumbered,  their  ammunition  nearlr 
exhausted,  and  their  loss  1  man  killed  and  2  wounded, 
abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  returned  to  their  respec- 
tive quarters.  The  injury  sustained  by  the  enemy  has 
never  been  known. 

Captain  Fors^e,  of  the  rifle  regiment,  being  at  the 
garrison  of  (^ensburg,  projected  an  expedition  agfunst 
a  small  village  in  the  town  of  Leeds,  in  Canada,  called 
Gananoqtte*  In  this  villa^  was  the  king's  storehouse, 
containing  immense  quantities  of  arms  and  ammuniticm, 
and  captain  Forsythe  was  resolved  on  its  destruction.  In 
tlie  nisnt  of  the  20th-  September,  therefore,  a  number  of 
boats  Deittg  provided,  he  embarked  witii  70  of  his  own 
men,  and  34  militia  men.  Before  daylight  of  the  21st» 
they  reached  the  Canadian  «hore,  and  landed,  unobserv* 
ed,  at  a  little  distance  from  the  village.  The  enemy  soon 
after  discovered  them,  and  they  were  fired  on  by  a  party 
of  125  regulars  and  militia.  Forsythe  drew  up  hia  men, 
and  returned  their  fire  with  such  effect,  that  tne  Aritish 
retreated  in  disorder,  and  were  pursued  to  the  village, 
where  they  rallied,  and  resolved  on  making;  a  stand,  and 
disputing  the  passage  of  a  bridge.  An  action  took  place 
here,  which  resulted  in  the  same  manner  as  the  former. 
The  enemy  again  fled,  making  his  escape  over  the  bridge, 
and  leaving  10  of  his  number  killed,  8  regulars  and  seve- 
ral militia  men  prisoners,  and  the  village  and  store  house 
in  possession  oi  the  American  party.  Captdn  Forsythe 
lost  1  in  killed  and  1  wounded.  Alter  releasing  the'  mi- 
litia prisoners  on  their  parole,  and  taking  out  a  quantity 
of  arms,  fixed  ammunition,  powder,  flints,  and  other  arti- 
cles of  public  property,  and  setting  fire  to  the  store  house, 
he  returned  to  Cape  Vincent  with  these,  and  the  ei^t 
regular  prisoners. 


■i 


68 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


In  retaliation  for  this  daring  exploit,  the  enemy  deter- 
mined on  attacking  and  destroying  the  town  of  O^ens- 
bui^.  Opposite  io  this  is  situateia  the  Canadian  village 
of  Prescott,  before  which  the  British  had  a  strong  line  of 
breastworks.  On  the  2d  of  October  they  opened  a  heavy 
cannonading  on  the  town  from  their  batteries,  and  con- 
tinued to  bombard  it  with  little  intermission  until  the 
night  of  the  Sd:  one  or  two  buildings  only  were  iiyured. 
On  Sunday,  the  4th,  having  prepared  40  boats,  with  from 
10  to  15  armed  men  in  each,  they  advanced  with  six 
pieces  of  artillery,  to  storm  the  town.  General  Brown 
commanded  at  (^ensburg  in  person,  and  when  the  ene- 
my had  advanced  within  a  short  distance,  h&  ordered  his 
troops  to  open  a  warm  fire  upon  them.  The  British,  ne- 
vertneless,  steadily  approached  the  shore,  and  kept  up 
their  fire  for  two  hours;  during  which,  they  sustained  the 
galling  fire  of  the  Americans,  until  one  of  their  boats  was 
taken,  and  two  others  so  shattered,  that  their  crews  were 
obliged  to  abandon  them;  they  then  relinquished  the  as- 
sault, and  fl«d  to  Prescott. 

The  success  of  the  detachment,  which  had  proceeded 
against  the  brigs  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  on  the  9th  Octo- 
ber, excited  a  strong  spirit  of  enterprise  among  the  troops 
^t  the  different  stations  along  the  Niagara.  The  whole 
number  under  the  command  of  general  Van  Rensselaer, 
amounted,  as  it  is  said,  to  5800,  and  were  disposed  of  in 
tfie  following  manner:  2900,  with  which  he  was  himself 
stationed,  at  and  near  Lewistown ;  1300  regulars,  in- 
cluding a  detachment  of  the  2d  artillery,  commanded  by 
lieutenant  colonel  Scott,  under  general  Smyth,  near  Black 
Rock,  distant  from  Lewistown,  28  miles;  500  militia  and 
volunteers,  at  Black  Rock  and  Schlosser;  six  companies 
t)f  field  and  li^ht  artillery  (300),  and  about  500  of  the  6th 
and  13th  regiments,  and  300  of  the  23d,  under  major 
Mullany,  at  the  fort  Niagara.  .        • 

The  general  was  pressed  from  all  quarters  to  give  the 
troopsr an  opportunity  of  distin^ishing  themselves^  and 
liis  own  opinion  was,  that  tlie  crisis  oi  the  campaign  was 
rapidly  advancing,  and,  as  he  infonned  the  commander  in 
chief,  "  That  the  hhw  imist  be  soon  struck,  or  the  toil  and 
"  expense  of  the  campaign  go  for  nothing ;  for  the  whole 
*•  will  be  tinged  with  dishonour,** 


OF  TUB  LATE  ^Ali. 


6d 


Under  these  circumstances,  and  influenced  by  these 
impressions,  he  ordered  the  resulars,  Qnder  lieutenant 
colonel  Fenwick  and  major  Mullany,  to  leave  fort  Niaga- 
ra, and  proceed  to  his  head  quarters  at  Lewistown.  The 
same  orders  were  issued  to  general  Smyth's  brigade. 
When  the  British  general  Brock  had  made  arrangements 
for  the  civil  government  of  Michigan,  and  had  appointed 
such  officers  as  he  thought  necessarv  to  its  administra- 
tion, he  transferred  the  command  of  Detroit  to  colonel 
Proctor,  and  moved  his  own  quarters  to  fort  Geoi^,  that 
he  midit  facilitate  the  preparations  on  the  Niagara  fron- 
tier. But  general  Van  Rensselaer  received  intelligence, 
which  was  thought  to  warrant  a  movement  into  Canida, 
and  was  at  the  same  time  informed,  that  general  Brock 
had  returned  to  Detroit  (upon  hearing  of  the  preparations 
in  the  west,  for  the  recovery  of  that  post),  and  had  taken 
with  him  such  troops  as  could  with  safety  b^spared  from 
fort  £rie  and  fort  George.  He  therefore  promised  his 
army,  ^t  they  should  cms  over  and  act  against  Queens- 
town  ;  and  it  was  for  this  purpose  that  the  regulars  were 
ordered  from  fqrt  Niagara  and  the  Rock.  The  posses* 
sion  of  Queenstown  was  important  to  the  success^  of  tiie 
American  arms  in  Canada,^  in  this,  or  in  anv  future  cam- 
pai^.  It  is  a  handsome  town, below  the  falls  of  Niacara, 
at  Sie  head  of  the  navigable  waters  of  that  strait,  and  im- 
mediately opposite  Lewistoun;  a  place  of  depot  for  the 
merchandise  for  all  the  country  above,  and  for  the  public 
stores,  and  the  line  of  posts  arong  the  Niagara  and  De- 
troit livers.  It  has  an  excellent  harbour,  and  good  an- 
chorage; the  banks  on  both  sides  are  elevated,  and  the 
landscape  is  among  the  most  splendid  and  sublime. 

It  was  intended,  that  the  attack  on  Queenstown  should 
be  made  in  the  morning  of  the  llih  October,  at  3  o'clock, 
and  the  embarkation  was  to  take  place  from  thert>ld  ferry, 
opposite  the  heights,  to  which  situation,  experienced  boat- 
men were  employed  to  navi^te  the  boato,  ^m  the  land- 
ing below.  The  river  here  is  one  sheet  of  vioi?nt  eddies, 
and  an  officer  who  was  considered  to  be  the  most  skil- 
ful for  such  a  service,  was  sent  ahead;  but  in  tii?^  ex- 
treme darkness  of  the  night  passed  the  intended  point  of 
embarkation,  far  up  the  river,  and  very  unaccountably, 
fastened  his  boat  containing  nearly  all  the  oars  of  tiie 
other  boats,  to  the  shore,  and  abandoned  the  detachment 


I 


M  \ 


70 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


The  ardour  of  the  officers  and  men  was  not  the  least 
abated  through  tlie  night,  though  they  were  exposed  to  p 
tremendous  northeast  storm,  which  prevailed  for  twenty- 
eight  hours,  and  in  that  time  deluged  the  whole  camp. 
But  they  were  mortified  by  this  distressing  dilemma,  and 
the  appearance  of  daylight  having  extinguished  every 
prospect  of  success,  tKe  detachments  returned  to  camp, 
and  an  express  was  sent  to  Black  Rock,  to  countermand 
the  orders  to  general  Smvth.    The  miscarriage  of  the 
plan  had  no  other  effect  than  to  increase  the  ardour  oi' 
the  troops,  and  they  impatiently  awaited  me  arrival  of 
orders,  which  would  bring  them  into  personal  opposition 
with  the  enemy.     Arrangements  were  therefore  made 
to  that  effect,  and  the  uight  of  the  12th  was  designated 
for  tlie  operation.    Two  columns,  one  of  300  militia,  un- 
der colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  and  another  of  300  regulars, 
un4er  lieutenant  colonel  Christie,  were  to  pass  over  toge- 
ther. Thirteen  boats  were  provided  for  their  conveyance, 
and  when  the  heights  shf *uld  bfPcarried,  lieutenant  colonel 
Fen  wick's  flying  artillery  were  to  cross  over;  then  major 
MuUany's  detachment  of  regulars ;  and  the  crther  troops 
,,to  follow  in  order.    Early  in  the  night,  colonel  Christie 
'marched  his  detachment  by  the  rear  roa^,  from  ^Niagara 
to  camp.    At  seven  in  the  evening,  lieutenant  colonel 
Stranahan*s  regiment  moved  from  Niagara  falls;  at  eight 
o'clock,  Mead*s  regiment;  and  at  nine,  lieu,  ynant  colonel 
Blanks  regiment.     Each  corps  was  in  camp  in  proper 
time.    At  the  dawn  of  day,  the  boats  we»*e  in  readiness^ 
and  the  troops  embar^.ed  early  in  the  morning  of  the  13th, 
'  under  cover  of  a  commanding  battery,  mounting  two  18 
pounders  and  two  6's. 

Whilst  these  preparations  w«  re  ffoing  forward,  the 
3ritisii  at  Queens  town  were  surreptitiousiy  apprised  ol 
the  contevnplated  movement  of  the  AmeiKJin  troops;  and 
they  despatched  expresses  to  give  intelligence  to  general 
Brock,  who  was  at  thul  moment  quartered  at  fort  Georgt . 
—The  heights  were  ii\jed  with  troops,  and  measures  in- 
stantly adopted  to  repel  tlie  debarkation.  F^e  boats  had 
scarcely  put  off,  before  they  received  a  brisk  fire  of  mus- 
ketry, fro»ri  the  \/hole  lino  on  the  Canadian  shf)re.  The 
AmericdU  batteries  were  immediately  opened  to  sweep 
the  opposite  fehore,  and  three  British  batteries  played  wit' 
great  severity  upon  the  boats.    Lieutenant  colonel  Scott 


OF  THE  LATE  1¥AR. 


71 


the  least 
»sed  to  p 
•  twenty- 
)le  camp, 
nma,  and 
ed  every 
to  camp, 
itermand 
re  of  the 
irdour  oi  . 
arrival  of 
ipposition 
)re  made 
esignated 
ulitia,  un- 
)  regulars, 
over  toge- 
nveyance, 
,nt  colonel 
hen  major 
ler  troops 
;1  Christie 
n  ^Niagara 
it  colonel 
i ;  at  eight 
nt  colonel 
in  proper 
readinesS; 
the  13th, 
g  two  18 

^ard,  the 

)pri8ed  ot 

[oops ;  and 

to  general 

rt  Geor^»L . 

isures  in- 

Iboats  had 

of  mus- 

)re.    The 

swee 

lyed  wit 

el  Scotv 


P 


of  the  3d  artillery,  with  a  detachment  of  that  regiment 
froln  Black  Rock,  had  reached  Schlosseri  by  water,  on 
the  night  preening,  without  beinff  formallj  apprised  of 
the  halt  of  general  Smyth's  brigade,  to  which  ne  was  at- 
tached.   On  his  arrival  here,  he  learned  the  intention  of 
feneral  Van  Rensselaer,  and  commenced  his  march  foil' 
iewistown,  after  midnight,  with  two  6  pounders^  under 
the  command  of  captains  Tcwson  ?ind  Barker,  and,  not- 
withstanding the  extreme  badness  of  the  roads,  rendered 
still  more  difficult  of  passage  by  tiie  darkness  of  t^<^  nieht, 
he  arrived  in  t^ae  to  return  the  first  of  iJie  eneiii/'s  fire, 
and,  by  dra\  ing  a  portion  of  the  attention  of  his"  batte- 
ries towards  himself,  to  facilitate  the  crossiii  g  of  the  Ame- 
rican volunteers  and  regulars.    Tne  eddies  in  the  river 
were  violent ;  the  shot  from  the  enemy  fell  in  heavy 
showers  on  the  boats,  and  the  difl^culty  of  combatinff  the 
former,  arid  avoiding  the  latter,  not  only  embarrassed  the 
officers,  but  put  many  of  the  oarsmen  into  confusion. 
A  grape  shot  from  a  battery  below  Queenstown,  which 
enfiladed  the  place  of  crossing,  struck  the  boat  in  which 
was  lieutenant  colonel  Christie,  wounded  him  in  the  hand, 
and  alarmed  the  pilot  and  boatmen  so,  that  the  boat  fell 
below  the  intended  place  of  landing,  and  was  obliged  to 
return.    The  boats  in  which  major  MuUan}  followed  the 
two  columns,  fell  also  below  the  point,  two  of  them  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  that  (.officer  also  returned. 
But  colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  who  commanded  the  whole 
detachment,  and  whose  boat*  formed  the  van,  moved  to 
the  enemy's  shore,  succeeded  in  touching  it  at  the  desig- 
nated place,  and  etfected  the  landing  of  the  van,  "consist- 
ing of  IOC  men,  under  ^.  tremendous  tire,  directed  upon 
him  from  every  point.    In  aacending  tlie  banks,  the  colo- 
nel received  four  balls.   Captain  Armstrong,  captain  Mal- 
colm, and  captain  Wool,  were  wounded,  jnd  ensij.'^n  Mor- 
ris was  killed.    A  party  of  the  Biitish  then  issued  from 
an  old  fort  belo.w  Queenstown,  but  being  fired  on  by  the 
Americans,  immediately  retreated.     A  strong   lottery, 
which  fired  incessantly  upon  the  van,  obliged  it  to  retire 
under  the  banks,  where  colonel  Van  Rensselaer  lay  wound- 
ed, who,  though  in  excruciating  pain,  with  great  difficulty, 
stood  up,  and  ordered  his  officers  to  proceed  with  rapidity 
and  storm  the  fort,  and,  if  possible,  to  ascend  and  carrj^ 


iip' 


> 


si;-- -- 


It  ■ 


•■3 


HISTOKICAL  SKXfFCHKS 


the  heights.  The  men  were  instantly  rallied.  About  6^ 
of  the  most  determiiied,  commanded  bjr-captain  Oril^e, 
seconded  by  captain  Wool,  thottgh  wottnded»  and  Geute- 
nants  Kamey,  Carr,  Hu^nan,  and  Sammons,  and  ensign 
Reeve,  of  the  I3th;  andlieutenants  Chmsevoort  and  Ran- 
dolph, «f  the  artiileFj,  cautiously  mounted  the  rocks  on 
the  right  of  the  fort,  gave  three  cheers,  and  assailed  and 
reduced  it  after  three  desperate  chturges.  They  then  car- 
ried the  heights,  and  thu  gallantly  lexecuted  the  whole 
order  of  tlie  colonel,  driving  the  enemy  down  the  hill  in 
every  direction.  A  part^  of  them  retreated  behind  a  stone 
guai'd  house,  where  a  piece  of  ordnance  was  briskly  serv- 
ed, but  a  fire  from  ^e  battery  at  Lewistown,  was  so  effec- 
tually directed  upon  it,  that  it  was  in  a  few  minutes  si- 
lenced. The  British  then  retreated  behind  a  large  stone 
house.  The  American  matrosses  were  ordered  to  turn  the 
guns  of  the  fort  upon  them,  but  lieutenant  Gansevoort  had 
hastily  spiked  the  cannon,  and  they  were  now  therefore 
useless.  The  enemy's  fire  was  silenced,  however,  with 
the  exception  of  one  gun,  which  was  out  of  reach  of  the 
American  cannon ;  and  the  boats  were  crossing,  unan- 
noyed,  but  by  this  battery.  Reinforcements  arrived  after 
tiiis  brilliant  success,  under  captain  Gibson  of  the  light 
artillery,  captain  M'Chesney  of  the  6th,  and  captain  Law- 
rence of  the  13th,  infantry;  and  colonels  Mead,  Strana- 
han,  Allen,  and  other  militia  ofiicers.  At  about  10  o'clock, 
tlic  British  line  was  re-formed,  and  flanking  parties  sent 
out.  Lieutenant  colonel  Christie  succeeded  in  getting 
across  the  river  with  5(X)  men,  and  took  command.  Ge- 
neral Brock,  having  rec  eived  the  expresses  which  were 
forwarded  to  him,  arrived  at  this  moment,  at  the  head  of 
a  reinforcement  of  regulars  from  fort  George.  He  had 
led  them  round  the  heij^ts  to  the  rear  of  the  battery,  when 
captain  Wool  detached  160  men  to  meet  them.  The  de- 
tachment was  driven  back,  but  being  immediately  rein- 
ijorced,  pressed  forward  i^;ain,  and  was  again  driven  back 
to  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  forming  thie  Niagara  river 
above  Queenstown.  oeeiiig  that  nothing  short  of  a  miracle 
could  save  the  detachment  from  being  beaten  ;  that  they 
were  nearly  without  ammunition,  and  supposing  it  use^ 
less  to  sacrifice  the  lives  of  brave  men,  one  of  the  ofiicers 
was  in  the  act  of  lioisting  a  white  iiag  on  a  bayonet,,  when 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


73 


were 
sad  of 
had 
I  when 
^e  de- 

rein- 

back 
j  river 
Iracle 

I  they 


captain  Wool,  knowine,  that  if  the  men  held  out  a  short 
while  longer,  they  wouw  be  relieved  by  reinforcements, 
tore  down  the  flag,  and  ordered  his  officers  instantly  to 
rally  the  trM>p8  and  bring  them  to  a  chai^.  At  this  mo- 
ment, a  reinforcement  arrived,  which  augmented  the 
detachment  to  3£0  men,  wh  ing  led  to  the  charge, 
made  a  forcible  apped  to  the  tyonet,  entirely  routed 
the  British  49th  reament,  of  600  men,  and  pursued  them 
up  the  hei^t,  until  tiie  ground  was  regained,  which  the 
detachment  had  just  berore  lost  Part  of  the  41st  were 
acting  with  the  49th,  both  of  which  regiments  distinguish- 
ed tliemselves,  under  the  same  commander,  in  Europe ; 
and  the  latter  had  obtained  the  title  of  the  Egyptian 
Invincibles,  because  they  had  not  on  any  occasion  be- 
fore, been  known  to  give  ^ound.  General  Brock,  indig- 
nant almost  to  exasperation  at  the  flight  of  this  regi- 
m«it,  was  attempting  to  rally  it,  when  ne  received  three 
balls  at  the  same  instant,  which  immediately  terminated 
his  brave  career.  His  aid,  captain  McDonald,  fell  at  his 
side,  mortallj  wounded.  At  about  2  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, brigadier  general  Wadsworth,  of  the  militia,  lieu- 
tenant cMonel  Scott  of  the  artillery,  and  major  MuUany, 
crossed  the  river,  and  took  the  several  commands  which 
had  been  assigned  to  them.— Claptain  Wool,  in  obedience 
to  the  order  of  colonel  Christie,  crossed  over  toLewistown, 
had  his  wounds  dressed,  and  returned  to  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion. General  Van  Rensselaer,  had  crossed  over  to  Queens- 
town,  and  considering  the  victory  complete  after  the 
repulse  of  the  49th,  and  the  death  of  general  Brock,  he 
commenced  preparations  for  encamfnng  in  the  enemy's 
country.  But,  m  expectation  of  further  attacks  by  other 
reinforcements,  he  directed  that  the  camp  should  be  im- 
mediately fortified,  and  committed  this  service  to  lieu- 
tenant Totten,  a  skillful  officer  of  the  engineers. 

The  enemy  was  reinforced  at  3  o'clock, by  several  hun- 
dred Indians  from  Chippewa,  who,  under  the  direction  of 
the  British  in  the  town,  commenced  a  furious  attack  upon 
the  American  troops,  whose  whole  number  did  not  ex- 
ceed 920.  As  they  approached  throu^  the  woods  and 
an  orchard,  the  troops  not  knowing  their  number,  at  first 
faltered.  Lieutenant  colonel  Christie,  and  lieutenant 
colonel  Scott,  behaved  with  great  coolness,  and  makmg 

G 


,V.;£^, 


■•♦ff; 


i      I 


I  2 


74 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


every  possible  exertion,  led  the  men  promptly  on,  and 
in  a  short  time,  the  Indians  beins  routed,  fled  before  the 
bayonet  and  rifle,  leaving  several  dead,  and  x^ne  of  their 
chiefs  a  prisoner.  General  Van  Rensselaer  observing  that 
the  troops  were  embarking  very  slowly,  and  fearing  the 
necessity  of  a  strong  accession  of  numbers,  crossed  over 
to  Lewistown  during  the  assault  of  the  Indians,  to  expe- 
dite the  movements  of  the  militia.  1200  and  upwards  of 
them,  were  standing  on  the  American  shore,  inactive,  and 
apparently,  unconcerned  spectators  of  the  battle.  At  the 
very  moment  when  victory  was  perching  on  the  banners 
of  tneir  country,  the  ardour  of  the  unengaged  troops  en- 
tirely subsided,  and  no  effort  <;ould  induce  them  to  cross* 
the  line,  and  share  in  the  glory  of  the  day's  triumph. 
Thrice  already  had  the  battle  been  won;  three  assaults 
of  the  enemy  had  been  vi^rously  repulsed;  and  the  con- 
quest of  the  town  and  heights  must  necessarily  have  fol- 
lowed. One  third  part  of  the  disengaged  men  would  have 
secured  it ;  but  they  liad  witnessed  at  a  distance  the  fu- 
rious attack  of  the  Indians;  they  had  seen  the  bodies  of 
their  wounded  fellow  soldiers  brought  back  tb  the  garri- 
son;  and  they  refused  to  go  fiirther  than  the  laws  of  their 
country  authorized  the  general  to  command  them.  They 
claimed  the  privileges  allowed  them  by  the  laws  of  the 
country,  whose  honour  and  renown  they  refused  to  assist 
in  promoting;  they  beheld  as  pliant  exploits  as  the  world 
perhaps  ever  witnessed,  but  still  they  were  not  animated 
by  the  same  spirit  of  enthusiasm,  nor  the  same  degree  of 
valour.  Peremptory  orders  were  disobeyed,  solicitations 
disregarded,  ana  all  areument  exhausted  to  bring  them  to 
a  sense  of  that  duty,  which  the  General  vainly  hoped,  had 
urged  them  in  the  first  instance,  to  press  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  act.  Lieutenant  colonel  Bloom,  who  had  been 
wounded  in  one  of  the  three  engagements,  mounted  a 
horSe  and  rode  among  them  with  the  General,  but  his  ex- 
ample had  no  more  effect  than  Hie  General's  persuasions. 
Meanwhile,  another  reinforcement  was  seen  coming  up 
the  river  from  fort  George.  The  battery  on  the  hill  was 
considered  as  an  imporfeint  check  to  their  ascending  the 
heights,  arid  measures  were  immediately  taken  to  send 
over  a  fresh  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition.  The  re- 
inforcements, however,  obliqued  from  the  road  to  the 


Ki  i 


ptiy  on,  and 
d  before  the 
Qne  of  their 
werving  that 

fearing  the 
crossecTover 
ans,  to  expe- 
l  upwards  of 
inactive,  and 
ttle.    At  the 

the  banners 
d  troops  en- 
lem  to  cross* 
y*8  triumph, 
iree  assaults 
ind  the  con- 
ily  have  fol- 
'.  would  have 
ance  the  fu- 
he  bodies  of 
[xi  the  garri- 
aws  of  their 
them.  They 
laws  of  the 
ed  to  assist 
IS  the  world 
>t  animated 
e  degree  of 
solicitations 
ing  them  to 
hoped,  had 
m  opportu- 

•  had  been 
mounted  a 
but  his  ex- 
ersuasions. 
coming  up 
iie  hill  was 
ending  the 
sn  to  send 

•  The  re- 
ad to  the 


OF  THE  lATB  WAB. 

o%''d^S"^T?.i7«o?  with  the  Indian.  i„  the  Z 
pursuit  o^u^Jf^'^^'^  troops  being  scatS^ 

were  taken  a  Rttle  by  s^pHse'^^'H  the  hei^5S3 
at  the  heights  must  l4  neK  «i5.  "*!i"S  *«t  Se  traSp" 
mtion  ^  neariy  expendedfj^^uff*^' *»'».  their  amm^ 
tion  and  disappointment  »t  T*™'helmed  with  mortificii 
<:ross!  and  seeing  th^tL'^L**  ■*«■»'  »<"  the  mmtia  to 
•educed  4etaehmfnUoowtirir«™  "'"^^''t,  Sh  tht 
OSS  would  very  soon  Senli^^  ""***"  *itl'outgr^| 
a«r  despatched  a  not^  to -te'^"?'*'  ^M  ReS- 
'"«  him  with  the  conduct  ?fth.  *Y,»?9worth,  acquaint- 
«=our8e  to  be  pursued  ZIl  ^  ""''^.  "LeaviL  Z, 
assurance,  tjt  if  he  Ztgh^t."^  i^oM.  wifh  an 
*^an  Rensselaer)  Wfluld  S  „      *"  ristreat,  he  feeneral 
c»«Id  collect,  aid  cover  hifi^r  f  k""'"^  hoara^he 

•  ."""torcement  amounted  to  Sfm  „  ^"      V'^  'ast  British 
ma  line  with  theirS^  .Tdt"'!,"^"''*''  •'raCup 
at  about  4  o'clock  an  Sil*     *"''''*  hy  their  Indians 
kept  up  for  half  an  houJ^A^  f '""*»t  eiisued,  and  wi' 
%ing  artillery,  m„"kX'  ^rf L  t^^endous  dis^ha^rf 
detachment,  &di„/S  rtf     ""'"''  ""til  the  AmSn 
their  strength  C|  nearly  T.hTusld"*  *">  «'»"S!     . 
nulitiawho  had  alraadv^  jf  5      •  *ted.  and  those  of  th. 

wable  to  fight  l„ngetreeS^"'i'^  themseKes,tw 
Ae  reception  «f  geSrvA±E,*"  ^'^^t.  "P^ 

^i^hrherhKi"'  ?ret^"-^-  ^^^t 

adorable  aid  from  the  AmericlS."^'.''<'y  ™<=«ved  c„»! 
a  brisk  and  well  directed  fi~o^  ^***"**'  "hich  kept  up 
ed  upon  their  rear,  and  fremf.'S  ^  '"^'"y.  ^  he  pW 

d?i:r/h'"'  *'p*^'  ^hirK^onri:''i:?  ""'^^^ng 

aians,  thrown  out  to  cut  oKk  '^ht  troops  and  IiC 

t-gue.  might  separate  wl^r"  T''T  ""'"''s.  or  t 

jook  place,  and  th<  boatmen  h!^^  "^^^^^  *^  J*st  aifeir 
fled  from  their  dutv  and  /h  k^'"«  P^«i*^  struck  Td 
*I'«Persed,  so  thattw'of  the' a'S  ^'''  ---quenttv 

wie  Amencans  ..caped  fi-oik 


76 


HISTORICAI.  SKETCHES 


|:»' 


the  Canada  shore.  In  this  distressing  dilemma,  fhej  were 
oblimd  to  surrender  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  to  the 
ttuiSier  of  386  regulars,  and  378  nulitia ;  62  of  the  regu- 
lars and  20  of  the  militia  being  wounded.  The  estimate 
of  Ii^ed  in  the  detachment  was  90.  When  the  last  de- 
tachment arrived  from  fort  George,  the  whole  Ameri- 
can force  was  formed  into  line,^in  three  divisions,  and 
amounted  to  only  240  men,  the  militia  refusing  to  act 
l(Higer,  and  many  of  the  regulars  beiiu^  then  already 
wounded.  The  victorious  enemy  treateatheir  prisoners, 
while  on  the  frontier,  with  the  most  generous  ti»idemess; 
but,  for  want  of  will  or  power,  they  put  no  restraint  upon 
their  Indian  allies,  who  were  strippm^  and  scalpine  not 
(Hily  the  slain,  but  the  dving  that  remamed  on  the  fi^d  of 
battle.  The  lifeless  body  of  ensign  Morris,  who  was  bro- 
ther to  the  amiable  and  distinguished  naval  officer  of  tiiat 
name,  was  stripped  to  his  shirt,  and  indignities,  too  sa- 
vaee  to  be  recoraed,  were  c(Mnmitted  on  his  person.  The 
body  of  general  Brock  was  committed  to  tiie  grave,  with 
the  usual  military  honours,  and  the  guns  at  fort  Niagara 
were  fired  duiing  the  ceremony,  as  a  tribute  of  respect 
for  a  gallant  enemy. 

There  was  no  officer  crossed  the  line,  upon  this  memo- 
rable day,  who  did  not  do  honour  to  his  country.  Colonel 
Scott  was  in  ftiU  dress,  which,  with  his  tall  stature,  ren- 
dered him  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  enemy.  It  has 
been  said,  that  several  Indians  told  him  of  their  having 
iJhtft  at  him,  but  he  received  no  wound.  A  company  of 
volunteer  rifleniPi),  under  lieutenant  Smith,  who  took  the 
Indian  chief,  behaved  with  the  courage  of  veterans.  Lieu- 
tenant colonel  Fenwick  was  wounded  three  different 
times,  and  each  time  severely)  captains  Gibson,  Wool 
and  MChesney,  and  lieutenant  Roach,  of  the  artillery, 
who  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  are  said  to  have  particu- 
larly (liHiiuji^uiHlied  themselves. 

The  British  forces  in  the  different  battles,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  first,  was  at  no  time  less  than  1100;  in  the 
last  and  fourth  engagement,  it  was  much  greater.  Their 
loss  is  not  known.  An  arraneement  wu»  entered  into, 
on  the  14th,  by  which  a  few  pnsoners  were  paroled;  the 
remainder  were  taken  to  Montreal. 

Whilst  the  titM»p8  were  embarking  at  Lewistown  in  the 


ifi 


OF  THE  UlTE  WAR. 


77 


[t  has 


ex- 
the 
leir 
[nto, 
the 

[the 


morning,  the  batteries  at  fort  Geoi^  opened  a  cannonade 
upon  fort  Niagara,  which  was  returned,  and  kept  up  with 
hot  shot  on  both  sides,  for  several  hours.  From  the  south 
block-hoUse  of  the  American  fort,  the  shot  was  principally 
directed  a^nst  the  village  of  Newark,.and  several  houses 
were  set  on  fire,  one  or  two  of  which  were  entirely  con- 
sumed. This  battery  was  commanded  by  captain  M'Keon, 
and  the  guns  were  worked  with  great  ability.  The  enemy 
commenced  throwing  shells,  ana  as  there  were  no  defences 
a^uiist  these,  captain  N.Leonard,  the  commandant  at  fort 
Niagara,  preferred  ordering  a  retreat  from  the  garrison, 
rather  than  expose  a  handful  of  men  to  their  danger.  The 
bursting  of  a  IS  pounder,  by  which  tw6  men  were  killed, 
deprived  tiie  fort  of  its  best  battery.  The  retreat  had 
scarcely  been  ordered,  when  a  numoer  of  boats,  loaded 
with  troops,  were  observed  to  put  off*  from  the  enemy's 
shore;  upon  which,  captain  M'Keon  returned  to  the  fort 
with  a  guard  of  20  men,  ren^ained  in  it  during  the  nighty 
and  was  joined  next  mornine  by  the  rest  of  the  garrison. 
Very  few  were  wounded,  and  none  killed  except  4he  two 
men  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun. 

Early  in  the  following  week,  the  British  batteries  below 
fort  Erie,  opened  a  very  heavy  fire  upon  the  village  wid 
fortifications  of  Black  Hock,  and  kept  it  up  at  uitervak 
during  the  day.  There  being  no  larg^  pieces  that  6*8  at 
the  breastworks,  very  few  shot  were  returned.  Several 
cannon  shot  struck  the  battery,  and  two  or  three  passed 
throudi  the  upper  loft  of  the  west  barracks.  The  east 
barracks  were  destroyed  by  a  bomb  thrown  from  a  24 
pounder,  which  blew  up  the  magazine,  and  burnt  a  quan- 
tity of  the  skins  taken  in  the  Caledonia.  General  Porter, 
of  the  New  York  militia,  was  sitting  at  dinner  in  his  quar- 
ters, when  one  24  pound  ball  struck  ihe  upper  loft  of  his 
house,  and  another  entered  it  through  the  roof. 

On  the  22d  October  the  enemy  landed  at  St  Regis,  a 
village,  without  a  garrison  of  any  kind,  and  from  which  he 
could  move  immediately  upon  me  camp  at  French  Mills. 
The  tribe  of  Indians  iimabiting  the  vilia^,  werejfriendly 
to  the  United  States,  and  as  it  entered  mto  the  views  of 
the  enemy  to  persuade  theia  from  the  service  of  the  Ame- 
rican government,  uito  which  they  might  probably  enter, 
and  to  flatter  them  into  their  own,  sir  George  rrevost, 

G2 


78 


HISTORICAL  SK&fCKES 


under  the  an^orit^  with  which  he  was  clothed,  had  for* 
¥[«pded  to  this  trdbe,  oresents  of  blankets,  guiu^,  specie, 
9ui,  under  an  escort  ot  soldiers,  and  accon^Mwied  by  de* 
spatehes,  in  which  he  solicited  their  alliance.  The  force 
was  variously  stated,  from  1  to  300,  and  mijor  G.  P. 
Young,  commanding  the  American  militia  from  Troy, 
at  the  Mills,  determined  on  iminediately  attacking  them, 
aa  it  was  understood  they  were  halting  there,  for  an  in-» 
crease  of  numbers.  He  detached  captain  Tilden  to  the 
St.  Lawrence,  with  a  view  of  gaining  a  circuitous  route 
to  one  of  two  houses  in  which  the  BrttidK  were  said  to 
be  quartered,  and  to  secure  the  enemy's  boats,  which 
were  stationed  there,  to  prevent  his  retreat.  Captain 
Lyon  was  detached  with  orders  to  take  the  road  running 
along  the  bank  of  the  river  St  R^s,  with  directions  to 
gain  the  rear  of  tlie  other  house;  and  miyor  Young,  with 
the  remainder  of  the  forces,  moved  on  in  ftoni.  yVhen 
within  50  yards  of  either  house,  he  heard  a  firine  which 
c(mvinced  him  fhat  captain  Lyon  was  engaged.  One 
round  was  sufficient  The  enemy  surr^dered ;  but  not 
to  the  number  reported  to  have  landed,  and  the  Ameri> 
cans  made  40  pris(mers,  and  took  one  stand  of  colours, 
38  muskets,  the  despatches,  and  all  the  bagsaee.  Two 
battemuv  were  taken  by  ci^tain  Tilden,  ana  ^  ^^^^P 
returned  to  their  encampment  at  about  11  o'clock.  Tne 
British  lost  4  killed,  and  1  mortally  wounded. 

At  one  o'clock  in  tile  morning  of  tiie  l7th  of  Novem- 
ber, four  British  baraes  approached  the  American  i^diore. 
About  a  mile  above  Ugdensbui^,  and  on  bein^;  hailed  by 
a  sentkiel  and  refusing  to  answer,  were  immediately  tired 
upon.  The  report  of  his  pnce  brou^t  several  riflemen 
to  his  assistance,  when  the  Imu^s  opened  a  smart  fire  of 
grape  shot,  without  effect,  and  soon  after  retired  to  Pres- 
cott  harbour.  On  their  way  thither  they  fired  several  shot 
into  the  town,  which  were  returned  by  a  6  pounder. 

This  alTiw  was  followed  on  the  nignt  of  me  191h,by  an 
incursion  seven  miles  into  the  British  territory,  by  colo- 
nel Z.  M.  Pike,  and  a  part  of  the  15th  regiment  He 
assaulted,  and  carried  a  post,  which  was  defended  by  a 
large  body  of  British  ana  Indies,  burned  a  block  house, 
put  the  garrison  to  fli^,  and  returned  with  a  loss  of 
5  men  wounded. 


'.'  v  • 


OF  T^R  LATB  WAR. 


79 


At  BIX  o'clock  on  Die  morning  of  the  Slst,  the  "Bri^^ 
having  prepared  mortars,  and  planted  a  long  train  of  bat^ 
tering  cannon,  b^ind  iireastworks  erected  on  the  oppo- 
site margin  of  die  river,  commenced  a  bombardment  of 
fort  Niagara,  and  open«l  a  cannonade  from  the  batteries 
at,  and  in  the  neighbottrhood  of,  fort  George,  which  was 
kept  up,  wiDioat  a  moment's  cessation,  until  sundown. 
Thej  employed  five  detached  lotteries  in  this  affiur.-— 
Two  of  tnem  mountii^  94  pounders,  and  one  mounting 
a  9  pounder.  The  remainder  were  mortar  batteries,  (rom 
five  and  an  htdf,  to  ten  and  an  half  inches,  from  which 
were  dirown  great  quantities  df  shells.  Itiese  fortress^, 
are  situated  nearly  opposite  each  other  at  ^e  mouth  of 
the  Niagara  riv^r,  iJ^mmand  i^  entrance  fVom  lake 
Ontario*  Itie  guns  of  fort  Niagara  may  be  brouditto 
betur  alternately  upon  fort  Geoi^  and  the  town  of  New- 
ark, whUst  a  (dependency  of  imi:  Niagara,  called  the  salt 
battery,  and  mounting  one  13  and  a  4  pounder,  was,  at 
the  time  of  the  attack,  directly  in  a  range  witfa>  and  cd^ 
culated  to  do  much  damage  to  the  enemy's  garrison. 
Tlie  American  fort  had  received  an  augmentetion  of 
force,  immediately  after  the  cannonade  of  tiie  Idth,  seve- 
ral cmps,  which  had  marched  to  Lewistown  having  been 
orderea,  after  the  battie  of  Qaeenstown,  to  relieve  the 
garrison;  but  it  was  not  yet  supplied  wilh  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  artillery  and  ammumtion.  It  was  now  com- 
manded by  colonel  G^eotge  M*Feely.  In  the  coar9e  of 
the  day  the  enemy  threw  SOOO  red  hot  balls,  and  180 
shells,  llie  shells  proved  to  be  harmless,  but  the  hot 
shot  set  fire  to  (several  buildings,  wldch  were  within  and 
about  the  fort;  but  throu^  me  incessant  vi^ance  of 
all  the  officers,  and  men,  particularly  of  that  gallant 
officer,  major  Armistead,  of  the  United  States  corps  of 
en»neers,  who  has  on  many  other  occasions  distinguish- 
ed iiimself,  the  fires  were  got  under  and  eictinsUlfthed, 
witiiout  being  discovered  6y  the  enemy.  Notwitiistand- 
ins  the  vast  shower  of  shells  and  cannon  btdl,  wliich  was 
fauing  into  the  fort,  tiie  garrison  performed  their  duty 
with  unremitting  alacrity,  And  served  their  pieces  with 
coolness  and  composure.  Captain  M*Reon  commanded 
a  12  pounder  in  the  southeast  block  house;  captain  Jacks, 
of  the  7th  militia  artillery,  commanded  in  tiie  north  block 


80 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


;  U' 


house,  a  situation  most  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.*— 
Lieutenant  Rees,  of  the  dd  artillery,  had  commaud  of  an 
18  pounder,  on  the  southeast  battery,  from  which  several 
well  directed  shot  were  made,  whilst  the  piece  was  point- 
ed at  the  enemy's  battery  en  barbettet  mounting  a  24 
pounder.  Lieutenant  Wendal,  of  the  same  regiment* 
had  command  of  an  18  and  4  pounder,  on  the  west  bat- 
tery; Dr.  Hooper,  of  the  militia  artillery,  had  command 
of  a  6  pounder  on  the  mess  house;  and  lieutenants  Gan- 
sevoort  and  Harris,  of  the  first  artillery,  had  command 
of  the  salt  battery.  Thus  disposed,  they  returned  the 
fire  of  the  enein^,  with  vigour  and  effect.  They  directed 
several  of  the  pieces  at  tne  town  of  Newark,  and  re- 
peatedly fired  it  with  hot  shot.  The  buildings  within 
tort  George  were  also  fired,  and  at  one  time  one  of  the 
batteries  was  silenced.  A  part  of  the  parapet  falling  on 
lieutenant  Rees,  his  left  shoulder  was  so  severely  bniised, 
that  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  quit  his  station,  and 
captdin  Leonard,  happening  at  that  moment  to  arrive  at 
the  fort,  took  command  of  lieutenant  Rees's  battery  for 
the  remainder  of  the  day.  The  continuation  of  the  Dom- 
bardment  was  far  from  lessening  the  animation  of  the 
men,  and  they  fou^t  with  undiminished  cheerfulness 
until  the  cannonading  ceased.  Colonel  M'Feely  spoke  of 
all  the  garrison  in  very  strong  terms  of  praise,  and  of 
lieutenant  colonel  Gray,  major  Armistead  and  captain 
Mulligan  particularly.  During  the  bombardment  a  12 
pount^r  burst,  and  killed  two  men.  Two  others  were 
tilled  by  the  enemy's  fire;,  and  .lieutenant  Thomas  and 
four  men  were  wounded.  From  the  salt  battery  the  ene- 
my was  very  much  annoyed.  A  few  shot  from  the  4 
pounder  there,  sunk  a  schooner,  which  lay  at  the  oppo- 
site wharf,  and  such  was  the  spirited  earnestness  of  both 
officers  and  men  at  this  battery,  that  when  in  the  most 
tremendous  of  the  bombardment,  they  had  fired  away  all 
their  cartridges,  they  cut  up  their  flannel  waistcoats  and 
shirts,  and  the  soldiers  their  trousers,  to  supply  their 
^ns.  An  instance  of  extraordinary  bravery  took  place 
m  the  garrison,  in  the  hottest  of  the  cannonade,  and  for 
deliberate  coolness  ^nd  courageous  fortitude,  was  sur- 
passed, neither  by  Joan,  maid  of  Orleans,  nor  the  heroine 
of  Saragosa.— Doyle,  a  private  in  the  United  States*  artil- 


^ 


OF  THE  LATB  WAR. 


•1 


&re.— 
of  an 
everal 
point- 
;  a  24 
imenti 
it  bat* 
[imand 
8  Gan- 
nmand 
ed  the 
irected 
ind  re- 
within 
of  the 
ling  on 
mused, 
>n,  and 
itive  at 
terv  for 
Ke  Dom- 
1  of  the 
rfulness 
poke  of 
and  of 
captain 
t  a  X2 
rs  were 
as  and 
le  ene- 
the  4 
oppo- 
)fboth 
most 
fSij  all 
Lts  and 
their 
place 
id  for 
18  sur- 
jroine 
artil- 


lery, who  had  been  stationed  in  the  ff»rt,  was  made  pri- 
9oner  tn  the  battle  of  Queenstown.  His  wife  remained 
in  the  garrison;  and  beinj^  there  on  the  2l8t,  she  deter- 
mined to  resent  the  refusal  of  the  British  to  parole  ker 
husband,  by  proflferine  her  services,  and  doine  his  dutj 
aeainst  the  enemy,  wnenever  the  works  ^ould  be  assail- 
ed. She,  accordingly,  on  this  occasion  served  the  6 
pottBd<t}r  OB  the  mess  house,  with  hot  shot,  (regardless  of 
the  shells  which  were  falling  around  her)  and  never  quit- 
ted her  station  until  the  last  gun  had  been  dischai^ed. 

General  Van  Rensselaer,  having  resigned  his  command 
on  the  Niagara,  general  Smyth  now  contemplated  a  more 
eflfectual  invasion  of  Canada,  than  that  which  had  so  re^ 
cently  failed.  From  a  description  of  the  river  below  tiie 
falls ;  tiie  view  of  the  shore  below  fort  Erie ;  and  from  in- 
formation which  he  had  received  of  the  enemy's  prepara- 
tions; general  Bmyth  was  of  opinion,  that  the  landing 
should  be  effected  between  fort  Erie  and  Chippewa.  This 
opinion  he  had  delivered  to  general  VantElensselaer  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Queenstown,  and,  being  in  command, 
he  was  resolved  tha  it  should  now  be  acted  upon.  The 
troops  stationed  at  Black  Rock  and  Buffaloe  were  equally 
desirous  of  engaging  the  enemy,  and  the  general  promised 
them  conquest  and  renown.  In  order  that  he  might  visit 
the  Canadian  shore,  with  a  force  com^»  •♦entto  regain  the 
^  <4ts  which  mi^t  be  captured,  he  desu\  ^  to  increase  his 
numbers,  by  such  an  accession  of  volunteers,  as  would  be 
willing  to  peiform  one  m(mth*8  service  in  the  army;  to 
submit  to  ttie  ri^d  discipline  of  a  camp;  and  to  encounter 
the  enemy  on  his  own  soil.  He  imm<*diately  communi- 
cated his  intentions  by  a  proclamation,  issued  on  the 
10th  November,  circulated  in  the  counties  of  Seneca, 
and  Ontario,  and  invitins  persons  thus  disposed  to  place 
themselves  under  his  authority.  This  proclamation  pro- 
duced the  intended  effect.  It  held  forth  great  allurements, 
and  appealed  to  the  patriotism  of  the  American  citizens. 
Under  this  proclamation,  ninibei'S  of  volunteers  came 
forwwtl  with  the  expected  a'acriiy;  and  on  the  27th  of 
November,  the  force,  collecte  1  »t  the  station,  amounted 
to  4,500  men,  including  the  regular  troops,  and  the  Bal- 
timore, Pennsylvania,  and  New  York  volunteers,  the  lat- 
ter being  placed  under  the  command  of  general  Peter  Bv 


l\ 


.<* 


^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^  .>\ 


% 


1.0 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STRHT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4S03 


I 


<^^^^ 


K^ 


fc 


!» 


82 


.      / 
HI^TOaiCAX.  SKSTCHBS 


Porter,  of  the  militia.    On  the  following  morning,  at  r#' 
veUk,  the  whole  fiM-ce  wm  to  e:  bark  froni  die  navy  jt»d 
atBiack  Rdck,  and  to  proceed  on  the  contemplated  <ex- 
peditioB.    No  posnble  preparati<Hi  was  omittea.    At  the 
navy,  yard,  there  weare  layii^  for  the  purpose  of  tranfmbrt- 
iog  the  troops  across  <he  river,  70  public  boats,  calculated 
to  carrjr  4()  men  each;  5  large  private  boats^  which  were 
taken  mto  the  public  service,  to  carry  100  men  «u^; 
aad  ten  scows,  for  the  artillery,  to  carry;  twentyi-ftve 
each;  which,  together  witii  a  number  of  ^nMll  boats,  also 
provided,  were  to  ^wispOrt  the  whole  of  this  army.  After 
reminding  the  citizens,^  that  for  many  yean%  tney  had 
iben  their  country  oppressed  with  numerous  wrongs ; 
and  Ihatth^r  government,  though  above  all  otiiers  devot* 
ed  to  peace,  had  been  ^Mrced  to  draw  the  sword,  and  rely, 
for  rearers  of  injuries,  on  the  valour  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, which  valour  had  in  ever^  instance  been  conspicu- 
ous: general  Smyth's  proclamation  continued^  **  That  one 
''army  had  been  disgracefully  surrendered  and  lost; 
and  another  had  been  sajerifieedt  by  a  pr&:i»itate  at' 
tempt  to  pass  over  at  the  strongest  point  of  the  ene- 
n^s  lines,  with  most  incompetent  means.    That  the 
cause  of  these  miscarriages  was  apparent;  the  com- 
"  mandek^  being  popular  men,  'destitute  alike  of  theory 
"  and  experience/  in  the  art  of  Vvar.    That  in  a  few  days, 
**  the  troops  under  his  command,  would  plant  tilie  Ame- 
**  rican  standard  iu  Cani^la;  as  they  were  men,  abcus- 
*' tomed  to  obedience,  siknce,  and  steadinesis.    Must  I 
"  turn,**  continued  he,  "from  you, , and  ask  the  men  of 
**  the  Six  Nations  to  support  the  government  of  the 
'*  United  States?  Shall  I  imitate  the  officers  of  the  British 
'  *'  king,  and  suffer  our  ungathered  laurels  to  be  tarnished 
**  by  ruthless  deeds?*** 

Accompanving  asecond  proclamation  of  general  Smyth, 

of  the  17th  November,  in  which  was  recapitulated  most 

.  of  the>appeal  of  the  former,  and  in  which  he  set  forth, 

*^  It  was  about  this  time  ,un4er8toQd,  that  anumber  of  friendly 
Iiu]Uans  proposed  to  be.  tc^ten  into  gen*  ral  Smyth's  army,  but 
that,  from  principles  dPl|[\eilio9t  sacred  humanity,  and  not  know- 
ing to  what  exceSMS  tn^ia^tbe  carried,  in  the  event  of  a,  suc- 
cessful invasion^  he  feiqpiEu;ttl^i%fiWed  to  let  them  accompany  hini 
into  Canada. 


a 


M 


a 


ag,  at  r*-' 
lavy^rd 

dialed  «x- 
txrAttiie 
traiifmort^ 
lalcamted 
hich  were 
ten  each; 
ventyi-flve 
loats,  also 
my.  After 
thej  had 
h  wrongs ; 
ers  devot- 
I,  aiidrely, 
siican  ]jeo- 
1  conspicu- 
"*  That  me 
and  lost} 
imtate  at- 
n  the  ene- 
That  the 
the  com- 
I  of  theory 
I  few  claysi 
tilie  Ame- 
len,  abcus- 
).    Must  I 
le  men  of 
nt  of  the 
le  British 
tarnished 

Iral  Smyth, 
lated  most 
set  forth, 

offiriendly 
aifiny,  but 
notknow- 
jiitof  asuc- 
bmpany  h'mi 


or  THB  LATE  WAIU 


83 


tfapit  "disloyal  and  ^nitorous  men  had  endeavoured  to 
^^persuade  the  peonle  £rOm  4oine  their  duty;"  was  an  ad- 
dnB$8  from  i^cral .  Porter  to  the  people  of  Unterio  and  ^ 
Gennesee;  in  which  he  inarmed  them,  uiat^neral  Smyth 
had  a  powerful  army  at  Buflype,  under  strict  discitthne, 
in  hi§^  spirits  and  eaaer  for  the  contest.  Thatwitn  this 
army,  he  would  in  a  rew  days  occupy  all  the  British  forts 
on  meNiaeara.  '  That  as  humanity  su^sted  this  con- 
quest should  be  a,chieyed  with  the  least  possible  sacrifice, 
general  Smyth  had  a8k<?d  their  aid  and  co-opoation,  for 
uie  purpose  of  obtainine^a  force  ^at  would  overawe  op- 
position, and  save  the  emision  of  blood,  't'hat  he  intend- 
ed himself  to  accompany  the  expedition;  that  a  vigorolw 
campaign  of  one  month  would  relieve  their  fellow  citi- 
zens, Q?  ^e  frontier,  from  their  sufferii^s;  drive  off  the 
savage  kmfe;  restore  peace  to  ^e  whole  of  that  section 
of  the  country;  and  redeem  the  tamit^ed  reputation  of 
the  nation. 

A  laige  number  of  troops  were  thus  assembled  at  and 
near3ul&loe,  where  thev  were  oiganized,  equipped,  and 
drilled  for  the  intendea  invasion.  Before  they  s^uld 
embaric,  however,  for  that  purpose,  general  Smyth  deem- 
ed it  prudent  to  disloc^  the  enemy  frtNon  the  ponticm  he 
occupied  upon  the  opposite  shore*  and  to  destroy  his  bat- 
teries, and  light  artiUery,  as  well  as  the  bridges  on  his 
left^  by  which  his  retreat  would  be  «ut  off  frcnn  Queens- 
town  or  St  Davidsi  The  general,  therefore,  directed 
lieuten'«nt  Angus,  of  the  navy,  with  the  officers  and  s^onen 
under  his' command,  amounting  m  all  to  70;  and  captain 
King  of  the  Idth  regiment,  with  about  the  same  number 
of  infantry  regulars,  to  proceed  on  the  night  of  the  27th 
to  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  The  expedition  Was 
conducted  with  all^the  necessary  precaution,  and  the  boats 
had  nearly  reached  the  Canadian  shore,  before  they  were 
discovered  by  the  enemy's  sentinels.  A  vivid  &:e  of  ar- 
tillery and  musketry  was  instantly  opened  upon  them,  but 
the  detachment  nevertheless  effectea  a  landing,  and  being 
formed  upon  the  shore  by  their  respective  commuiders, 
the  sailors  and  soldiers  promptly  aidviHiced  to  the  assault  of 
tlt>  3  batteries.  These  were  aucfies8f)|%.fltoFmed^  and  the  Bri- 
t >h  driven  to  their  barracks  at  th«  Red  House,  where  they 
rallied  with  250  men,  and  commence  a  rapid  fire  of  mus- 
ketry. The  guns  at  the  batteriia  being  spiked,  lieutenant 


*i;^L 


5b: 


84 


HISTORIC  AjL  8KBTCH£S 


Anguft  ancl  c«ptabi  Kui§^  aatbted  t^  Samuel  Swartwoot; 
•tq.  SB  enterpruing'  Gitn&en  <i£  New  Voric,  w^o^  bemc  at 
iiic  station,  intdonteered  liii  serviceB,  followed  up  Ineir 
succew*  by  i^  des|>enite  assault  imoB  ^  Red  House*  The 
satlora  cuuri^  with  beanUii^  piKes  and  cuilasses,  the  re- 
gpiU^uiB  with  the  bayonet,  ajnCafter-ii  kaijd  And  destructive 
enapgemeiit^  they  routni  the  enemy*  &red  the  barraeks, 
«tid  took  id>ont  50  prisoners.  tSastam  JLiiug  -tiiea  marched 
with  ^  men,  to  possess  himselr«f  anotMr  iMitery  at  a 
-Utile  distance  frmn  those  which  had  been  already  taken, 
and  at  which  heint^ed  to  remain  until  the  aimy  should, 
cross  over.  LieuteMat  Angus  returned  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  detadukient,  ana  ike  wounded  and  prisoners, 
and  iHit  himM^  ia  readiness  to  naiwale  the  Itoats,  m 
wUcn  the  main  hody  of  general  Smy&'s  troops  were  to 
embitfk. 

The  loss  of  officers  and  men«  to  «^io»e  courage,  abi- 
lity and  discipline,  both  lieutenant  Angus  and  <captain 
Kin^  attributed  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  was  j^reat. 
SaibiMfBUMifaer  Watis,  the  same  who  had  dntaaatUshed^ 
himsc^  in  cuttine  out  the  -CaledoBia,  fell  at  the  head  of 
his  cMuon  <ctf  me  saibrs  as  he  was  jadlBBtly  :leadimF 
tfiemoi.  Amoag  the  wopded  na^  o&ers,  4re  U^ 
tenant  Wisa^  biMly;  satlingmaster  J«  H.  Carter,  hadly-— 
iQst  the  entire  use  of  his  ririitami ;  sadingniaster  filessioii, 
diesneratdy,  and  died  a  lew  daya  after;  attdsypman 
Dunl^,  SHfthtly;  iBrailsfoBd,  Iw^  and  ttoldap,  se- 
verely; ana  ^kndiam  idangegopiily'  lomptttation  of  a  leg. 
Boatowain  CampbdU  was  womiMiHuJlT,  and  lost  the  use 
of  an  arai.  Of  ther  regulars,  captain  Box  and  Ueatenant 
LissoB  were  WQuncfced  Datttr. 

fiverybatteiylietweeBdhinpewa  and  fort  Erie,  being 
carried,  and  the  icanaiSB  spfxed,  or  destn^^,  sixteen 
miles  of  the  'Canadian  .frontier  were  laid  waste  and  de- 
serted, and  at  daybreak  of  the  96th,  the  batteries  on  the 
American  side  were  in  readiness  to  cov«r  the  embarkation 
of  theiBrmy,  and  most  of  Ihe  troops  hsd  arrived  at  the 
designated  place. .  Three  hundred  and  fortTf /volunteers, 
who  Mid  rawed  under  ^9enfend  ^yth^s  ptoclamotion^  well 
armed  and  .pvoiiided,  were  marelwd  by  general  Porter  to 
tin  navy  yara.  Onie  hundred  and  fi%<p1hers  w^rer  draw- 
ing aiaas  atBuialoe,  and  had  orders  to  follow  immedi- 
atny.    Atsundse,  tin  tveo^uenenilly  began  to  embark. 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


as 


neat 

The 
bera- 
active 

irehed 

yata 
taken, 
ahoald. 

BOners, 
ate,  m 
reiiete 

je,  afcl- 
captain 
I  mat. 
K&hed^ 

leading 
ireUeii* 

l«Mni» 

Lpman 

ip,  ae- 

a  leg. 

use 

It 


sititeen 
de- 
on  the 
ition 
at  the 
iteeri* 
li  well 
•to 
drsw- 
imedi- 
Imbark, 


the  artillery  having  been  ready  from  daylight,  but  such 
was  the  tardiness,  of  a  portion  of  them,  that  at  12  o'clock 
the  whole  body,  with  colonel  Swiff  s  volunteer  regiment, 
were  not  yet  in  the  boats.  A  considerable  number  of 
bai^s  had  been  thrown  upon  the  shores  of  the  river,  and 
Conejockeda  creek,  by  the  high  tide  of  the  preceding  day; 
others  were  filled  with  ice  and  water,  and  several  laying 
about  one  mile  below.  To  collect  and  put  these  in  order 
for  the  reception  of  the  troops,  required  a  delay  of  several 
hours  morie,  and  it  was  not  until  two  o'clock,  that  all  the 
troops  intended  to  be  sent  over  at  the  first  crossing,  were 
collected  in  a  group  of  boats  at  Black  Rock,  under  cover 
of  the  lotteries,  where  general  Porter,  having  brought 
up  the  five  boats  which  were  below,  joined,  and  took 
his  station  among  them.  The  number  now  embarked, 
according  to  tiie  estimate  of  general  Porter,  amounted  to 
2000,  who  were  anxiously  awaiting  the  order  to  proceed. 
General  Tannehill's  volunteers,  colonel^  F.  MClure's  re- 
^ment,  and  some  riflemen  and  cavalry,  in  all  about  2000 
more,  were  still  paraded  op  the  shore,  and  were  to  con« 
stitute  the  second  embarkation.  In  the  mean  time,  cap- 
tain King  and  his  12  men,  who  were  yet  in  tlie  enemy's 
territory,  dismounting  his  pieces,  were  made  prisoners, 
and  about  500  British  troops  had  been  dr^wn  up  in  line, 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  s(Minding  their  trumpets 
and  bugles,  and  indicating  their  readiness  to  receive  the 
Americans.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  general  Smyth  order- 
ed the  troops  to  disembark,  and  silenced  their  murmurs, 
by  an  assuruice,  that  the  expedition  was  only  postponed 
until  the  boats  should  be  put  in  a  state  of  better  prepara> 
tion,  and  that  they  fthe  troops)  ^ould  immediately  after 
be  put  in  motion.  The  different  regiments  retired  to  their 
respective  Quarters;  general  Porter  marched  his  volun- 
teers to  Bumiloe,  but  the  enemy  was  actively  employed 
in  remounting  his  guns  upon  the  batteries.' 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  an  order  was  issued,  from  the 
head  quarters  of  the  commanding  general,  for  the  march 
of  the  troops  to  the  navy  yard,  to  embark  on  the  following 
morning,  at  9  o'clock.  The  time  and  manner  proposed 
in  this  order,  were  disapproved  of  by  all  the  officers;  and 
those  of  the  highest  rank  addressed  the  general,  and  stated 
their  olijections  to  the  plan.  The  repaired  state  of  thd 
^^nemy's  batteries  i^ndered  it  inexpedient  to  cross  at  the 


'r 


' 


86 


'*  II  .'  u 


HISTORICAX  SKETCHES 


point  above  the  island,  which  covers  the  tiavy  yard;  below 
that  point  he  lay  much  augmented,  in  consequence  of  the 
gallant  affair  of  Ihe  ^.8th,  and  occupied  a  line  of  shore,  of 
nearly  a  mile,  from  whi'ch  he  would  have  a  full  view  of 
the  American  movement  if  made  by  daylight.  To  avoid 
the  lire  of  the  British  flying  artillery  and  infantry,  it  was 
proposed  to  general  Smyth,  tiiat  the  troops  should  be 
landed  5  miles  below  the  navy  yard,  at  an  hour  and  a 
half  before  day,  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  so  that  this 
danserous  shore  might  be  passed  in  ihe  dark;  when  if 
the  Doats  were  discovered,  the  troops  would  suffer  less 
from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  place  which  was  thus  re- 
commended, was  of  all  others,  peculiarly  favourable  to 
.  a  safe  and  orderly  landing,  and  me  proposal  was  accord- 
ingly adopted,  and  the  army  to  embark  at  3  o'clock,  and 
to  land  at  half  past  4,  in  ihe  ord^  of  battle  prescribed  on 
the  28th. 

On  Monday  evening  (30th,)  7  boats  for  colonel  Swift's 
regiment,  and  8  for  the  new  volunteers,  were  brought  up 
the  river  and  placed  at  different  points,  so  tiiat  the  noise 
and  confusion  of  embarking  the  whole  at  one  place,  might 
be  avoided.  At  half  an  hour  after  3,  these  boats  were  oc- 
cupied, and  took  their  station  opposite  the  navy  yard. 
The  regulars  were  to  proceed  on  the  risht,  general  Tan- 
nehill's  volunteers  in  the  centre,  and  me  ^w  York  vo- 
lunteers on  the  left  General  Porter,  with  a  chosen  set 
of  men,  was  appointed  to  proceed  in  front,  to  direct  the 
landing,  and  to  join  the  New  York  volunteers  when  on 
the  opposite  shore.  On  the  arrival  of  the  boats  which 
were  to  compose  the  van,  general  Porter  found  that  the 
artillery,  composed  of  a  detachment  of  the  light  artillery, 
under  captain  Gibson,  and  captains  Towson  and  Barieer's 
companies  of  the  2d  re^ment  of  heavy  artillery,  were  em- 
barking in  the  scows  with  as  much  haste  as  possible:  but 
one  hour  elapsed  before  the  regular  infantry  attempted  to 
follow,  when  col.  Winder,  at  the  head  of  the  14th,  entered 
the  boats  with  great  order  and  silence.  Every  thing  seem- 
ed to  promise  a  speedy  and  successful  issue;  the  troops 
intended  to  be  embarked  were  now  nearly  all  in  readiness 
to  proceed ;  general  Porter  dropped  to  thp  front  of  the 
line  witii  a  flag,  to  designate  tlie  leading  boat ;  and  the 
word  only  was  wanted  to  put  off.  General  Snvyth  now 
suddenly  called  a  council  of  war,  composed  of'^  colonel 
Moses  Porter,  colonel  Winder,  colonel  Coales,  colonel 


OF  THE  LATE  VTAM. 


87 


t;  below 
e  of  the 
shore,  of 
[  view  of 
ro  avoid 
y,  it  was 
hould  be 
ir  and  a 
,  that  this 
;  when  if 
suffer  less 
»  thus  rc- 
)urable  to 
as  accord- 
clock,  and 
acribed  on 

nel  Swift's 
brought  VLp 
it  the  poise 
)lace,  migbt 
its  were  oc- 

navy  yard* 
sneralTan- 
[w  York  vo- 
chosen  set 
direct  the 
•8  when  on 
loats  which 
ftd  that  the 
rht  artillery, 
[nd  Barker's 
hy,  were  em- 
ossible:  but 
Ittempted  to 
[4th,  entered 
thing  seem- 
;  the  troops 
in  readiness 
front  of  the 
it ;  and  the 
Smyth  now 
of  colonel 
lcs,  colonel 


Campbell,  and  colonel  Schuyler,  who,  upon  representa- 
tions, made  by  the  General,  decided  that  the  expedition 
should  not  be  at  that  time  undertaken^   The  front  of  the 
line  was  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  shore,  when  the 
rear  was  observed  to  be  retarded,  and  general  Porter  re- 
ceived •rders  from  general  Smyth  to  disembark  immedi- 
ately.   He  was  at  the  same  time  informed  that  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada  was  abandoned  for  the  season ;  that  the 
regulars  were  ordered  into  winter  ouarters;  und  that  as 
the  services  of  the  volunteers  could  now  be  dispensed 
with,  they  might  stack  their  arms  and  return  te  their 
homes.    Previously  to  this  order,  an  interview  had  taken 
place  between  .general  Smyth  and  a  British  major,  who 
came  over  with  a  flag.*    The  scene  of  discontent  which 
followed,  was  without  parallel.    4000  men  without  order 
or  restraint,  indignantly  discharged  their  muskets  in 
every  direction.    The  person  of  the  commanding  general: 
was  threatened.    Upwards  of  1000  men,  of  all  classes  of 
society,  had  suddenly  left  their  homes  and  families,  and 
had  made  great  sacrifices  to  obey  tiie  call  of  Iheir  country, 
under  general  Smyth's  invitation.    He  possessed  their 
strongest  confidence,  and  was  gaining  their  wannest  af- 
fections: he  could  lead  to  no  post  of  danger,  to  which 
they  would  not  follow.  But  now,  Ihe  hopes  of  his  govern- 
ment; the  expectations  of  the  people;  the  desires  of  the 
army;  were  all  prostrated,  and  he  was  obliged  to  hear 
the  bitter  reproaclies,  and  the  indienant  epiSiets  of  the 
men,  whom  lie  had  promised  to  lead  to  honour,  to  glory, 
to  renown.    The  inhabitants  refiised  to  give  him  quarters 
in  their  houses,  or  to  protect  him  from  the  ra^e  of  those 
who  considered  themselves  the  victims  of  his  imbecility, 
or  his  deceit    He  was  obliged  constantly  to  shift  his 
tent  to  avoid  the  general  clamour,  and  to  double  the  guard 
surroundine  it;  and  he  was  several  times  fired  at,  when 
he  ventured  without  it  An  application  was  made  to  him 
by  the  volunteers,  to  permit  them  to  invade  the  enemy's 
territory,  under  general  Porter,  and  they  pledged  them- 
selves to  him,  to  take  fort  Erie,  if  he  would  give  them 
four  pieces  of  flying  artillery.     This  solicitation  was 

*  It  is  stated  in  a  letter  written  by  gfeneral  Smyth  to  the  author, 
that  the  object  of  this  interview,  was  to  negotiate  for  the  e»> 
change  of  a  British  surgeon's  mate  then  a  prisoner  at  Black  Rock. 


m 


m 


t 


88 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


evaded,  and  the  volunteer  troops  proceeded  to  their 
homes,  execrating  the  man  whom  ttiey  had  before  respect- 
ed, and  the  general  on  whose  talents,  and  who^  promises, 
tiiey  had  placed  the  most  generous  reliance. " 

General  Smyth,  however,  found  those  who  gave  their 
approbation  to  his  measures,  and  who  thought  that  he 
had  saved  his  army,  by  relinquishing  the  invasion  of  Car 
nada.  The  public  mind  was  for  a  long  time  agitated  with 
doubts  about  the  proprietv  of  his  conduct,  in  not  prose- 
cuting the  campaign,  and  breaking  up  the  enemy's  strone 
rits  alon^  theNiasara.  Few,  however,  have  hesitated 
declare  liis  culpability,  in  inducing  men  to  leave  their 
homes  for  a  monoi's  incursion  into  9ie  British  territory, 
unless  he  intended  to  effect  it  at  every  hazard,  which  they 
might  be  willing  to  encounter.  But  he  has  alleged,  that 
his  orders  from  the  commander  in  chief  were  to  cross  with 
'*  three  thousand  men  at  once;"  that  he  could  not  ascer- 
tain the  number  of  troops  which  would  go  over  until  he 
saW  them  actually  embarked ;  that  when  they  were  em- 
barked, they  did  not  amount  to  more  than  1512  men,  ex- 
clusive of  the  staff,  being  but  half  the  number  with  which 
only,  his  instructions  authorized  him  to  assail  the  oppo- 
site shore;  and  that  many  of  the  militia  not  only  refused 
to  go,  when  ordered  into  the  boats  by  his  brigade  major, 
but  Ihat  more  than  half  of  general  Tannehiil*s  brigade 
had  desei*ted.  In  his  official  letter  to  general  Dearm)rn, 
he  stated,  that  he  had  called  toother  a  council  of  his 
officers,  agreeably  to  his  instructions,  in  all  important 
cases,  ana  they  decided  against  the  contemplated  opera- 
tions, upon  the  ground  of  the  insufficiency  oi  force.  That 
he  then  mformea  the  officers,  the  attempt  to  invade  Ca- 
nada would  not  be  made  until  the  army  should  be  rein- 
forced, and  directed  tiiem  to  withdraw  their  troops,  and 
cover  them  with  huts  immediately. — ^That  the  volunteers 
and  the  neighbouring  people  were  dissatisfied ;  and  it  had 
been  in  the  power  oi  the  contracting  agent  (alluding  to 
general  Porter,)  to  excite  some  clamour  against  the  course 
pursued,  as  he  found  the  contract  a  losing  one,  and  would 
wish  to  see  the  army  in  Canada,  that  he  might  not  be 
bound  to  supply  it— That  the  situation  of  the  force  under 
his  (general  Smyth's)  command,  had  not  been  such  as  to 
make  the  propriety  of  a  forward  movement  obvious  to  all: 
that  circumstanced  as  he  was,  he  thought  it  his  duty  *'  to 


i 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


•9 


"  follow  ike  cautious  counsels  of  experience,  and  not  bj 
"  precipitation,  to  add  to  the  list  of  our  defeats." 

Whether  general  Porter's  anxiety  to  see  the  army  in 
Canada,  arose  from  so  interested  a  motive  as  general 
Smyth  has  alleged,  or  whether  he  was  actuated  by  a  de- 
sire to  see  the  campaign  of  1812  closed  with  some  bril- 
liant achievement  of  me  American  arms,,  the  reader  will 
be  better  able  to  judge,  by  remembering  tiie  indefatigable 
exertions  which  that  general  made,  to  enlaree  Hie  forces 
at  Buffaloe,  and  pf  the  personal  share  wMcn  he  was  dis- 
posed to  take  in  the  most  dangerous  part  of  the  enter- 
prise. 

On  the  9d  of  December,  the  enemy  a^ain  opened  his 
bt^tteries  upon  Black  Rock,  probably  with  a  view  to  in- 
form the  American  army  that  his  ^ns  were  unspiked  and 
replaced,  and  that  he  was  i^n  m  a  state  to  resist  the 
invasion.  His  fire  was  returned  from  the  battenr  at  the 
Rock,  now  called  fort  Gibson,  one  of  the  guns  of  which, 
under  captain  J.  N.  Barker,  was  so  well  directed,  tliat  the 
ball  entered  an  embrasure,  at  the  British  battery,  dis- 
mounted a  heavy  gun,  and  disabled  the  carriage.  In  a  few 
hours  the  enemy's  fire  was  completely  silenced. 

The  troops  were  now  all  quartered ;  barracks  erected 
at  Williamsvillife,  for  the  reception  of  the  largest  propor- 
tion j[  and  no  operations  took  place  unlil  the  close  of  the 
year.  The  armies  wer6  distinguished  by  titles,  derived 
from  their  situations.  That  which  was  commanded  by 
general  Smyth,  being  the  army  of  the  centre,  and  that 
upon  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  vicinity,  being  the  north- 
ern army;  This  latter,  which  consisted  of  an  active  force 
of  5737  men,  of  infantry,  cavalry,  field  and  horse  artillery 
and  militia,  had  also  gone  into  winter  quarters;  and  the 
hopes  of  the  nation  rested  now  only  on  the  northwestern 
ARMY,  which  we  left  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Rapids 
of  the  Miami ;  tlie  head  quarters  of  its  commander  at  San- 
dusky, making  vigorous  preparations  for  a  push  upon  the 
British  and  Indians  at  Detroit,  and  resolved  upon  quar- 
tering for  the  winter  in  one  of  the  enemy's  garrisons. 

H2 


90 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


I 


.    CHAPTER  VIL 


The  ^avif^Third  naval  metorvt  the  United  States  over 
the  British  frigate,  the  Macedonian^^Progress  of  the 
naval  establishment  on  lake  Ontarith^Chauncefs  squa^ 
dron  pursues  the  Boyal  George  into  Kingston  hatbour, 
and  bombards  that  town^-Tht  Chrowler  captures  an 
enemy's  sloop — Fight  between  the  British  doop  of  war, 
Cfiarybdis,  and  the  privateer  Blockade^^The  Orders- 
in-Council  exchanges  broadside^  with  the  British  sloop 
of  war.  Opossum — The  Tom  captures  the  Townsend^^ 
The  Bona  vanquishes  a  22  gun  ship-^The  JPolphinen' 
gages  and  carries  two  armed  vessels-^FourBi  naval 
vict&ry,  the  Constitution  over  the  British  frigate,  the 
Java, 

The  Amedc^  arms  on  the  ocean  all  this  time  con^-"^ 
nued  to  be  triuiAhant.  One  naval  victory  succeeded 
another,  until  ther|>eople  of  the  United  States  were  asto- 
nished at .  the  ceaseless  prowess  of  their  tars ;  and  the 
nations  of  Europe  stood  in  admiration,  and  began  to  look 
upon  the  rising  naval  establishment  of  America,  as  H 
future  rival  to  tlie  formidable  enemy,  against  whom  it 
was  alreadj  successfully  contending. 

The  United  States'  nigate  the  United  States,  captain 
Stephen.  Decatur,  of  44 guns, carrying  54,having  seprated 
from  the  squadron  under  commodore  Rodgers,  with  which 
she  left  Boston  on  the  18tii  October  (1812,)  cruised  in  the 
track  of  the  British  frigates  until  the  25ti),  when  in  lati- 
tude 29deg.  N.  long.  ^  deg.  30  min.  W.  she  fell  in  with 
the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  captain  John  Garden,  of 
38  guns,  but  carrying  49,  the  odd  one  being  a  shifting  gun. 
The  Macedonian  was  to  windward,  and  entered  the  en- 
gagement at  her  own  distance.  For  half  an  hour  after  the 
commencement  of  the  action,  the  United  States  had  no 
opportunity  of  using  her  carronades,  the  enemy  keeping 
<Hit  of  their  reach,and  never  once  coming  within  the  range 
of  grape  or  musketry.  The  action  therefore,  was  of  greater 


^ 


I  States  over 
^es8  of  the 
mcefs  squa- 
ton  hatbottr, 
captures  an 
iaiop  of  war. 
The  Orders- 
British  sloop 
Townsent^ 
Jhlphinen' 
'ourm  naval 
frigate,  the 


B  time  conti'^ 
r  succeeded 
8  were  asto- 
ire ;  and  the 
sgan  to  look 
lerica,  as  H 
ist  whom  it 

ttes,  captain 
ig  separated 
,  with  which 
-uised  in  the 
hen  in  lati- 
fell  in  with 
Garden,  of 
hiftinggun. 
red  the  en- 
Duraftierthe 
ites  had  no 
ny  keeping 
in  the  range 
IS  of  greater 


;^ 


■X. 


/     "^      / 


■i      -'^^ 


*<   , 


I 

■r- 


or  THE  T.ATB  WAS. 


91 


I 


leneih  than  usual,  and  continued  under  every  advantage 
to  me  enemy,  until  the  United  States  neared  him.  The 
fire  from  her  then  became  so  vivid,  that  the  enemy's 
crew  imagining  her  to  be.on  fire,  gave  many  demonstra- 
tions of  their  joy,  and  expected  every  instant  to  see  her 
blown  up.  But  the  Macedonian's  mizen  mast  was  shot 
awav  by  the  board,  her  fore  and  topmasts  by  the  caps, 
her  lower  masts  badly  wounded,  her  main  mast  destroy- 
ed, and  all  her  rising  cut  up.  Most  of  her  guns  were 
disabled,  the  largest  part  of  tier  crew  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  having  become  a  perfect  wreck,  she  surrendered 
after  an  action  of  an  hour  and  an  half,  at  the  moment 
when  the  United  States  was  about  to  nke  her. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  American  crew,  on  discovering 
the  enemy,  and  during  the  battle,  was  perhaps  unprece- 
dented, pnd  the  precision  uf  their  fire  never  surpassed  in 
any  o^er  naval  engagement.  Captain  Garden  being 
brought  on  board,  presented  his  sword  to  captain  Deca- 
tur, who,  in  testimony  of  the  gallantry  of  his  enemy,  de- 
clined accepting  it^^sayine,  that  "  he  could  not  receive  the 
sword  of  a  man,  who  had  defended  his  ship  so  bravely." 
The  eneihy's  loss  amounted  to  104,  36  in  killed,  and  681 
wounded:  among  the  latter,  her  first  and  third  lieute- 
nants. The  loss  of  the  United  States  was  5  killed,  and 
7  wounded,  making  a  total  of  12.  Among  the  latter  was 
lieutenant  John  Musser  Funk,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylva* 
nia,  who  afterwards  died  of  his  wounds,  regretted  for  his 
worth,  and  admired  for  his  constant  coolness  and  courage. 
The  United  States  received  no  damage  whatever,  and  re- 
turned to  port  only  to  9te  her  prize  safe  in.  The  supe- 
riority of  gunnery  was  decideoly,  in  tiiis  action,  on  the 
side  of  the  American  seamen,  who  fired  70  broadsides, 
whilst  the  enemy  discharged  but  36. 

The  Macedonian  was  an  entire  new  ship,  and  ha«  been 
«ut  of  dock  but  four  months.  She  was  brought  into  Hie 
port  of  New  London,  and  thence,  through  the  Sound,  to 
New  York,  where  she  was  fitted  out  as  a  38  ^n  frigate, 
and  as  such  bought  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
at  the  value  of  200,000  dollars. 

Captain  Decatur  every  where  received  the  congratula- 
tions of  the  citizens.^  The  legislatures  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Vii^nia  voted  him  an  elegant  sword:  the  congress 
of  the  United  States,  a  gold  medal.    The  corporation  of 


'^■*5«^ 


n 


HISTORICAX  SKETCHES 


:  )fi' 


New  York  voted  him  the  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a  gold 
box,  and  had  his  porliait  set  up  in  their  gallery;  and  the 
select  and  common  councils  of  Philadelphia,  (in  which 
city  he  was  born)  voted  him  a  superb  sword ;  and  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  of  which  captain  John>^Mullowney, 
formerly  of  the  United  States  navy,  was  one;  who,  in 
conjunction  with  major  general  John  Barker,  then  mayor 
of  the  city,  were  to  procure  it  to  be  made  of  American 
materials.  This  sword  was  presented  to  captain  Deca-* 
tur  by  ^e  mayor,  accompanied  by  a  concise  and  appro- 
priate address,  to  which  he  made  a  pertinent  and  manly 
reply.  Lieutenant  Allen,  first  of  the  sliip,  and  lieutenant 
Nicholson,  received  the  same  honours  from  the  legislature 
ofVireinia. 

On  lake  Ontario  the  naval  operations  were  becoming 
every  day  of  more  consequence.  Arrangements  had  been 
made  for  the  augmentation  of  the  fleet,  and  a  large  ship 
lyas  already  on  the  stocks,  nearly  completed,  and  to  be 
called  the  Madison,  About  the  6th  of  November  (1812), 
commodore  Chauncey,  vt^ho  commanded  the  fleet  on  this 
station,  had  some  suspicion  that  three  of  the  enemy's 
Squadron  had  proceeded  fiom  Kington,  up  the  lake,  with 
troops  to  reiniorce  fort  George.  The  vessels  supposed  to 
have  sailed  in  this  direction,  were  the  Royal  George  of 
26,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  of  10,  and  the  Prince  Recent 
of  14  guns.  Commodore  Chauncey  immediately  sailed 
with  tiie  brig  Oneida,  of  14  guns;  the  Governor  Tomp^ 
kins,  lieutenant  Brown,  of  o  guns;  the  Grotvler,  lieute-' 
nant  Mix,  of  5  guns ;  the  Conquest,  lieutenant  Elliot, 
of  2  guns;  the  General  Hamilton,  lieutenant  M'Pherson, 
of  6  guns;  the  Pert,  Arundle,  of  2  guns,  and  the  Julia, 
Trant,  of  1  long  32  pounder,  making  in  all  36  guns.  As 
the  enemy's  vessels  were  expected  to  return  to  Kingston 
for  more  troops,  it  was  intended  to  intercept  them  at  the 
False  Ducks,  a  collection  of  islands  which  they  would  be 
obliged  to  pass. 

On  the  8th,  the  squadron  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George, 
and  chased  her  into  the  bay  of  Quinti,  where  she  v  as  lost 
sight  of  in  the  niglit.  On  ike  morning  of  the  9th,  she 
was  discovered  in  Kingston  Channel.  Signal  was  im- 
mediately made  for  a  general  chase ;  but  by  the  alternate 
prevalence  of  squalls  and  calms,  the  squadron  was  led  in 
close  pursuit  into  the  harbour  of  the  enemy  at  Kingston. 


OF  TIIE  LATB  WAR. 


93 


n  a  gold 
and  the 
n  which 
and  ap- 
llownej, 
who,  m 
n  mayor 
imerican 
in  Deca- 
d  appro- 
d  manly 
eutenant 
igislature 

l)ecoming 
had  been 
irse  ship 
nd  to  be 
tjr  (1812), 
»t  on  this 
enemy's 
ake,  with 
iposed  to 
^eorge  of 
e  Recent 
ily  sailed 
|r  Tomp- 
|i*,  lieute*' 
Elliot, 

HE.RSON, 

Julia, 
ms.  As 
Kingston 

at  the 
k^ould  be 

\  George  t 

|v  as  lost 

)th,  she 

^as  im- 

llternate 

Is  led  in 

ingston. 


The  commodore  being  determined  on  boarding  her,  thou^ 
she  was  anchored  under  the  enemjr^s  batteiies,  with  springs 
on  her  cables,  that  she  might  get  all  her  euns  to  bear, 
gave  his  signal  to  that  effect  At  three  o'cfock,  the  bat- 
teries opened  their  fire  on  the  fleet,  and  sent  forth  a  tre- 
mendous shower  of  shot  and  grape.  Lieutenant  Elliott 
of  the  Conquest,  pushed  forward,  and  went  in,  in  the 
handsomest  style.  He  was  followed  by  the  Julia,  the 
Pert,  and  the  Chrowler,  in  succession;  then  came  up  the 
brig,  with  the  commodore,  then  the  €teneTal  Hamilton, 
and  the  Governor  Tompkins,  At  12  minutes  after  3, 
lieutenant  Elliot  opened  his  fire :  at  15  minutes  after  3, 
the  Pert,  Julia,  and  Chrowler  opened  theirs.  At  20  mi« 
nutes  after  3,  the  whole  of  the  batteries  fired  on  the  brig, 
and  she  sustained  most  of  the  fire  during  the  remainder 
of  the  action.  A  little  while  i^ter,  the  commodore  gave 
tlie  sioial,  **  engage  closer  f*  which  was  instantly  obeyed. 
The  Perfs  gun,  about  this  time,  burst,  and  wounded  her 
commander,  who,  refusing  to  leave  the  deck,  was  knock- 
ed  overboard  by  the  boom,  and  drowned.  At  40  minutes 
past  3,  the  brig  opened  her  fire  on  the  Royal  George,  and 
the  Royal  George  on  the  Hamilton.  The  firing  became 
now  very  hot,  and  was  kept  up  with  the  greatest  alacrity 
until  4  o'clock,  when  the  Royal  George  cut  her  cables  and 
ran  furtiier  up  the  bay. 

The  squadron  became  exposed  to  the  cross  fire  of  5 
batteries  of  flying  artillery,  m  all  about  40  guns,  and  the 
guns  of  the  ship,  the  RoyaJ,  George;  which,  having  taken 
a  more  advantageous  position,  set  new  springs,  and  re- 
commenced her  fire.  Round  and  erape  were  now  fall- 
ing about  the  squadron  in  heavy  lowers.  At  half  an 
hour  after  4,  the  whole  hauled  by  the  wind,  and  beat  out 
of  the  bay;  two  miles  frcm  whicn,  they  anchored,  in  full 
si^t,  until  the  10th;  and  after  remaining  there  nearly  all 
that  day,  they  returned  to  Sacket*s  Harbour,  with  the 
loss  of  1  man  Killed  and  5  wounded  on  board  the  Oneida* 
Whilst  at  the  mouth  of  Kingston  Haibour,  the  commo- 
dore captured  a  schooner,  and  as  she  could  not  beat  out 
with  the  squadron,  he  ordered  the  Growler  to  take  her 
under  convoy,  to  run  down  past  Kingston,  and  anchor  on 
the  cast  end  of  Long  Island,  under  an  expectation  that 
the  Royal  George  A^ould  be  induced  to  come  out  to  re- 
capt^-re  her;  but  h«r  commander,  fearing  that  the  squad- 


94 


HXSTOBICAI,  SKETCHES 


^ome  ou(,  8,a.S  with  L  r^^  *»  'nd-ce  the  e?emy  to 

•^y  to  general  Brock  tJ^tu        ■  ?"  *"^  PnTate  seen.*, 
property  and  bSe^xr.""*  """i  S«nera^s  Sat 

'  &""?■-""«'  ot°^'^tfi.*-*''^"hiS''^\t:^ 

'ended.    Commodore  Ch,„„    ^  *"*  •*">§  stronslv  de 
S,^..i.ncHe^dtM^X^^ 

thlm^'j"'S  on  the  swiftness  „f  *?  •""^<"''<'n■a' Ports. 

't"  test:*?  »^  "tf  ofe  a'c"hr  f 

merchants  of  GreaTl'?  r»''»eq„ence  exdfed  ami  "*.''• 
^«f.  which  wrrmrk^'"^;"!  the  -»t  »umC7ct 

SteT4:?r«S  w- ^^^^^^^  ^' 

fell  in  w^fk  *?    *'^®®®  armed  vesselia      -rf     Jl?  "^'^ne 


OF  THB  LATE  WAR. 


95 


his  moorings, 
n  her  hull,  as 
irough.  The 
he  enemy  to 
for  SacKet*s 
e  Prince  Be" 
oying  a  sloop 
i  placed  her- 
e  armed  ves- 
^ain,  pressed 
ght  her  into 
2,000  dollars 
ivate  secreta- 
eral's  private 
immediately 
tting  off  the 
'ock  express- 
nericans  had 
'  had  got  out 
strongly  de- 
5  succeeded 
I  again  to  the 
ting  Ihe  new 
26th  of  No- 
lent  without 

were  float- 
cruised  be- 
onial  ports, 
ff,  many  of 
ih  Channel, 
amons  the 
r  ofcap- 
uced  the 
war,  for 
ybdis,  of 
war,  were 
ere  then 
nd  which 
n  by  one 
^haryhdis 
irk,  of  8 
Ihour  and 


20  minutes,  in  which  ^e  .CharyMis\o^t  9.%  of  her  offi- 
cers and  men,  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  Blockade 
8  men  only,  the  latter  was  carried,  and  taken  into  port 
The  Opossum  encountered  the  "  Orders^in'Councit,**  a 
small  privateer,  who  fou^t  her  until  they  had  exchanged 
7  broadsides*  when  finding  the  enemy's  force  to  be  too 
powerful,  she  abandoned  th'^  contest,  and  effected  her 
escape. 

Tiie  privateer  Tom,  captain  Wilson,  of  Baltimore,  on 
the  23a  of  November,  descried  a  sail,  gave  chase,  over- 
hauled, and  brought  her  to  an  action,  which  terminated 
in  the  surrender  of  the  enemy,  with  the  loss  of  her  cap- 
tain and  4  men  killed,  and  several  wounded.  She  proved 
to  be  the  British  packet  Townsend,  M*Coy,  from  Fal- 
mouth for  Barbadoes.  Her  mail  had  been  tiirown  over- 
board, but  was  picked  up  by  the  Tom*s  boats ;  and  after 
being  ransomed,  she  was  suffered  to  pfoceed. 

The  Bona  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  having  discovered 
a  British  ship  of  800  tons,  and  22  guns,  then  on  a  voyage 
from  Madeira,  ran  up  and  engaged  her,  when  the  great 
gun  burst,  and  captain  Dameron  put  29  officers  and  men 
into  his  boats,  and  despatched  them  to  board  her.  After 
a  severe  fight  upon  her  decks,  they  carried  her  with  little 
loss.  Two  strange  sail  at  this  moment  comine  up  in 
chase,  the  Bona  left  the  prize  in  possession  of  those  on 
board,  and  bore  away,  to  draw  the  chasing  vessels  after 
her. 

The  privateer  Dolphin,  captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  .of  10 
guns  and  60  men,  also  of  Baltimore,  being  off  Cape  St. 
Vincent,  engaged  a  ship  of  16  guns  and  40  men,  and  a 
brig  of  10  guns  and  25  men,  at  the  same  instant;  and 
after  a  long  and  gallant  action,  made  prizes  of  both.  The 
Dolphin  had  4  men  wounded:  the  enemy  19  killed  and 
40  wounded,  among  them  the  captain  of  one"  of  the  ves- 
sels. Instances  of  the  bold  and  daring  intrepidity  of  the 
crews  of  the  private  armed  vessels  of  the  Uni  ed  States, 
are  so  numerous^  that  the  recital  of  them  would  swell 
this  work  very  far  beyond  the  limits  which  have  been 
assigned  to  it.  The  eneniy's  commerce  was  every  where 
assailed  by  them,  and  the  British  government  were  obliged 
to  protect  their  merchant  ships  by  large  convoys  of  ves- 
sels of  war. 

A  plan  had  been  matured  at  the  navy  department  for 
a  cruise  in  the  South  Seas,  and  the  frigate  Constitution, 


96 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


I  :i' 


now  commanded  by  commodore  William  Bainbridge,  the 
Essex,  captain  Porter,  and  the  Jibmeif,  captain  Lai^rehce, 
were  selected  to  prosecute  the  voyage  in  company.    On 
the  27th  of  October  (1812),  the  Essex  sailed  from  die  De- 
laware, and  on  the  3Qth  the  CansHttttion  and  Hornet  from 
Boston;  several  places  of  rendezvous  having,  been  assign- 
ed, at  either  of  which  this  force  was  to  be  united)  to  pro- 
ceed upon  the  cruise.  On  the  29th  of  December,  the  union 
of  these  vessels  had  not  yet  been  effected;  and  on  that 
day  the  Constitution  descried  a  sail  at  meridian,  in  lat. 
13  deg.  6  min.  S.  long.  38  W.  ten  leagues  from  St.  Salva- 
dor, which  she  soon  discovered  to  be  a  British  frigate. 
Commodore  Bainbridce  tacked  sail  and  stood  for  her.  At 
50  minutes  past  1  P.  M.  the  enemy  bore  down  with  an  in- 
tention of  raking  the  Constitution^  which  she  avoided  by 
wearing.    Much  manceuvring ,  took  place  on  both  sides, 
the  object  of  the  enemy  being  to  rake,  and  of  the  Consti" 
tution  to  avoid  being  raked,  and  to  draw  the  enemy  from 
the  neutral  coast    At  2  P.  M.  the  enemy  was  within  half 
a  mile  of  the  Constitution,  and  to  windward,  having  hauled 
down  his  colours,  except  the  union  jack,  which  was  at  the 
mizen  mast  head.    A  gun  was  then  fired  ahead  of  him, 
to  make  him  show  his  colours;  but  this  gun  was  answered 
by  a  whole  broadside.    The  enemy's  colours  were  then 
hoisted,  and  the  action  began  with  round  and  grape;  but 
he  kept  at  so  sreat  a  distance,  that  the  grape  had  little 
effect,  and  to  bring  him  nearer,  would  expose  the  Consti- 
tution to  severe  raking.    At  30  minutes  past  two,  both 
ships  were  within  good  canister  distance,  when  the  Con- 
stitution's wheel  was  shot  away.    At  40  minutes  past 
two,  the  fore  and  main  sail  were  set,  and  commodore 
Bainbridge,  being  now  determined  to  close  with  him, 
luffed  up  for  that  purpose,  and  in  ten  minutes  after,  the 
enemy's  jib-boom  got  foul  of  the  Constitution's  mizen 
ri^ng,  and  in  another  ten  minutes  his  bowsprit  and  jib- 
boom  were  shot  away.    At  5  minutes  past  3,  his  main 
topmast  was  shot  away  just  above  the  cap.    This  was 
followed  by  the  loss  of  his  gaff*  and  spanker  boom,  and 
soon  after,  his  mainmast  went  nearly  by  the  board.    At 
5  minutes  past  4,  the  enemy  was  completely  silenced, 
and  his  colours  at  the  main  being  down,  it  was  thought  he 
had  surrendered.    The  Consfiftttion  therefore  shot  ahead 
to  repair  damages,  which  being  done,  and  the  enemy's 


ill     i%i. 


-r^'W;* 


t)iidge,  the 
Lawrehce, 
pany.    On 
)m  me  De- 
9met  from 
ten  assign- 
ed, to  pro- 
',  the  union 
lid  (m  that 
ian,  in  lat. 
St  Salva- 
ish  frigate, 
for  her.  At 
mth  an  in- 
ivoided  by 
both  sides, 
:he  Consti" 
aemy  from 
«yithin  half 
ing  hauled 
was  at  the 
d  of  him, 
answered 
ere  then 
ape;  but 
had  little 
e  Consti' 
two,  both 
the  Cow- 
jutes  past 
mmodore 
ith  him, 
fter,  the 
rs  mizen 
and  jib- 
lis  main 
!'his  was 
kom,  and 
Ird.    At 
lilenced, 
jught  he 
it  ahead 
;nemy*s 


?^ 


0  / 


/     VA 


mmmmmmm 


ii  I 


♦' 


i.^' 


iii! 


1 


®*  ^«»  lATB  WAR. 

«»  board,  a  numh*;  !?"*"«  »' Bombav    «i,    l  9'™". 
.Walker. «,a  ooeVfaffm.-'''  «""«»<»•  of  %^T  *?" 

^?  q"«rfer  deTh?.!i!".«"-.  b«a„le„.  t  k!2*  •'*»'«' 


M  bUi le?  btade  anST^'  '?«»*«  l>,Tw?l««t»f 


Worfer^'^™»«<»«on,bow  Mm  to  r* :?  "^^  *«  «c. 


pbi«on.  nor  wim.?h  k  '"^  •  »»Wle  man  to  fcT^A    f  *  «^'P. 

X   ^"^^"'^  barker,  the  first 


96 


UISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


Pi'      , 


if, 


officer  of  the  ship,  and  midshipmeii  James  Delany,  of  Penli- 
sylvania,  and  John  Packet,  of  Jeffisraon  countj,  Virginia ; 
the  latter  of  whom  was  entiiisted  with  die  despatches  from 
commodore  Baihbridge  to  the  navy  department,  and  has 
since  been  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy.  Matty  of  the -sea- 
men exhibited  a  most  uncommon  degree  of  heroism:  one 
of  them,  John  Cheves,  after  being  mortally  wounded,  re- 
mained on  deck,  apparently  dying,  until  tne  termination 
of  the  eneigemen^  when,  the  wora  being  passed  that  the 
enemy  had  struck,  he  raised  himself  up  with  one  hand, 
gave  three  cheers,  and  fell  back  and  expired*  His  brother 
was  also  severely  wounded. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1813,  (nautical  time)  tommo^ 
dore  Bainbridge,  upon  bemg  informed  bj  lieutenant  Par- 
ker, that  the  prize  was  in  such  a  condition  that  many  re- 
pairs would  be  required  to  reader  her  at  all  manageable; 
and  knowing  the  immense  distance  at  which  he  then  was 
from  any  port  in  the  United  States;  and  how  much  he 
would  be  obliged  to  weaken  his  crew,  to  man  the  prize 
properly;  determined  on  blowing  her  up,  which  he  acc(»tl- 
ingiy  did  at  3  P.  M.  with  every  valuidne  article  on  board 
ofner^  except  the  baggase  of  the  prisoners.  To  ^ese  he 
administered  every  comfort  which  his  means  could  afford ; 
and  at  St  Salvador,  where  he  landed  the  remaining  crew 
of  the  Java,  he  received  the  public  acknowledgments  of 
lieutenant  general  Hislop  to  that  effect,  accompanied  by 
the  presentation  of  an  elegant  sword.  Captain  Lambert 
had  received  a  mortal  wound  in  the  early  part  of  ike  en- 
gagement, and  was  in  so  languishing  a  situation,  that  he 
could  not  be  removed  frote  the  Java,  until  her  destruction 
was  resolved  on;  after  which  the  commodore  directed  his 
course  to  St.  Salvador,  to  land  and  parole  him.  On  arriv- 
ing in  that  port,  he  landed  the  private  passengers  without 
considering  them  prisoners  of  war,  ana  released  the  pub- 
lic passengers,  and  the  officers  and  crew,  amounting  to 
351  men,  on  their  parole,  on  condition  of  their  returning 
to  England  and  remaining  there,  without  servine  in  anj 
of  their  professional  capacities,  until  they  shouldl)e  regu- 
larly exchanged. 

At  St  Salvador,  t'  e  Constitution  met  the  sloop  of  war 
the  Hornet,  with  who>  i  she  had  parted  a  few  days  before 
the  engagement)  and  leaving  that  vessel  to  blockade  the 
British  sloop  of  war  the  Sonne  Citoyenne,  commodore 


or  THB  LATE  WAB. 


99 


5lany,ofPciiti- 
inty,  Virgima ; 
ispatchesfrom 
tment,  and  ha» 
my  of  the  •sea- 
heroism:  one 
f  wounded,  re- 
le  termination 
INissed  that  the 
rith  one  hand* 
d*  His  brother 

[  time)  bommo; 
lieutenant  Par- 
i  that  many  re- 
nil  managcatble; 
ich  he  then  was 
i  how  much  he 
>  man  the  prize 
rhich  he  accord- 
irticle  on  board 
).    To  these  he 
ns  could  afford; 
remaining  crew 
»wledgments  of 
ccompanied  by 
ptain  Lambert 
part  of  the  en- 
;uation»  that  he 
ier  destruction 
tre  directed  his 
jim.    On  arriv- 
jengers  without 
tased  the  pub* 
amounting  to 
leir  returning 
jervine  in  any 
[hould  De  regu 

sloop  of  war 

|w  days  before 

blockade  the 

commodore 


Bainbridffe  broke  up  the  intended  cruise  in  the  South 
Seasi  and  returned  to  the  United  States.  Here  he  was 
greeted  with  the  applauses  of  his  countrymen,  and  re- 
ceived the  freedom  of  the  city  of  New  York  in  a  gold 
box,  a  piece  of  plate  from  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  the 
thanks  of  many  of  .the  state  legislatures,  and  a  medal  from 
congress,  with  50,000  dollars  for  himself,  officers,  and 
crew.  The  legislature  of  Virginia  voted  a  handsome  sword 
to  lieutenant  Morgan  and  midshipman  Packet  of  their 
state,  and  their  approbation  to  the  officers  generally. 

The  comparative  force  of  the  two  vessels,  as  well  as 
the  number  of  men  in  each,  has  been  a  suliject  of  preva- 
rication, and  given  rise  to  much  public  discussion.  Cap- 
tain Laonbert  having  expired  at  St  Salvador,  it  became 
the  duty  of  lieutenant  Cnads,  first  officer  of  tiie  Java,  to 
make  an  official  communication  of  the  affiiir  to  his  go- 
vernment That  officer,  unmindful  of  the  generous  mag- 
nanimity with  which  he  had  beeA  treated,  endeavoured  to 
tBk.%  awaj  from  tiie  credit  of  oie  American  cominodore, 
by  underrating  the  number  of  the  British  crew,  and  the 
actual  force  of  the  British  ship;  and  by  very  largely  over- 
rating the  force  and  crew  of  the  Constitution*  Aisurances 
were  given  to  commodore  Bainbridee  by  the  officers  of 
the  Java^  that  the  ship  left  Enffland^with  a  crew  which 
did  not  exceed  320  men,  but  fie  prisoners  received  on 
board  of  the  Constitution  very  fiir  exceeded  that  number; 
and  when  ^e  muster  book  or  the  Java  was  found  and  ex- 
amined, it  called  for  409  officers^  petty,  officers,  seamen 
and  marines;  so  that  their  loss  in  killed  must  have  been 
greater  than  they  reported. 


ICO 


HlSTOBiCAl  8HJBTcajB9 


CHAPTER  via 


'    -r--"i,taenomieBidianl 

Frenchtown  were  ap^eheLW  l^?"'  *'  '"'"bitants  of 

*e/ therefore  implZdeenlmlw^'"^  massacred,  and 
•ws"-  protection,  ffiooril  s!.  f ™  Winchester  to  marohto 

commwd,  were  Werior  IT'"  ^\  *'""*  «■»«  "^  h^ 
force^  bjr  which  in  aU  pSbiffv  r"*"  *?  *«  '""ected 
Without  anjr  previous'^ert  tiJh*^  "'""''  ^  »««a^ 
«o  the  plan  of  operations  "S  •«  «*"f™'  Harris  >n.  as 
authority,  gene^l  W°ni;,w  *"•"!?*  ••"  knowled^  or 
Jionof  the^nhabitaZ  it!^-^j'''''«  *»  *«  solSt^^ 
.^i!  ^^Ji  ,«"^e.  {th»  rit^'ir^or-  marching  WW. 


OF  THE  I.ATE  WAB. 


101 


le  morn- 


ing of  the  18th,  the  two  detachments  concentrated  at 
Presque'Ule;  when  colond  Lewie,  having  been  informed 
that  an  advanced  party  of  the  British  ai|d  fiidians,  amount- 
ing to  about  500,  were  already  encamped  at  Frenchtown, 
immediately  determined  on  attacking  them.     A  rapid 
march  broitffht  him  within  their  view  at  about  3  o'clock. 
At  three  miles  distance  he  was  apprised  of  their  being 
prepared  to  receive  him,  and,  lest  they  should  sally  out 
and  suddenly  encounter  him,  he  arranged  his  men  in  the 
order  of  battle,  and  approached  with  (Mi^ition  to,  the  mar- 
gin of  the  river.   The  command  oi  the  right  win|^  com- 
posed of  the  companies  of  captains  M<3racken,  Siedsoe, 
and  Matson,  was  assigned  to  lieutenant  colonel  Allen. 
The  command  of  the  left,  composed  of  the  companies 
of  captains  Hamilton,  Williams,  and  Kelly,  to  major 
Graves.    Major  Madison  was  placed  in  the  centre,  with 
the  companies  of  captain  Hi^tower,  of  the  17th  U.  8. 
infantry,  and  captaii^s  Collier  and  S^brie.    Captain  Bal- 
lard, acting  as  major,  was  sent  in  advance  vi^&  two 
companies,  commanded  by  captains  Hickman  and  Glaves. 
Thus  organized,  the  whole  body  came  within  a  aoarter 
of  a  mile  of  the  enemy.   The  river  only  separatea  them. 
The  line  was  then  displayed,  and  tiie  passa|;e  of  the  river 
attempted,  under  a  fire  from  a  hovritzer,  which  the  enemy 
directed  a^inst  the  volunteers,  with  little  eflfect.    The 
line,  remaming  compact,  marched  across  the  ice  to  the 
opposite  shore,  at  the  very  moment  when  a  taml  was 
given  for  a  general  chai^.    Majcnrs  Graves  and  Madisoii 
were  instantly  ordered  to  assail  the  houses  and  picketing 
in  and  about  which,  the  enemy  had  collected  ana  arrayed 
his  cannon,  before  this  charge  could  be  made.    The  two 
battalions  advanced  with,  great  velocitj,  under  an  inces* 
sant  shower  of  bullets,  carried  the  picketing  with  ease, 
dislodged  the  British  and  Indians,  and  drove  them  into 
tlie  wood.    Lieutenant  colonel  Allen  made  a  simultane- 
ous movement  upon  the  enemy's  left,  then  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  tlie  remainder  of  his  troops,  and  afber 
one  or>two  spuited  charges,  compelled  him  to  break,  and 
drove  him  more  than  a  mile;  after  which,  he  took  shelter 
in  the  same  wood,  to  which  the  rieht  had  retired.    Here 
the  two  wings  concentrated,  and,  ocing  covered  by  the 
fences  of  several  enclosed  lots,  and  a  group  of  houses, 
"with  a  thick  and  brushy  wood,  and  tL  quantity  ti  fallen 

12 


♦#  -^ 


!  i 


W. 


10£ 


UISTORIOAIi  SKETCHES 


timber  in  the  rear,  they  made  a  stand  with  their  howiizwr 
and  small  arms.    Colonel  Allen  was  still  advancing  with 
the  ri«ht  wing  of  the  American  detachment,  and  was  cx- 
posedlo  the  fil-e  of  the  whole  body  of  the  enemy.  Majors 
.Graves  and  Madison,  were  then  directed  to  move  up, 
with  ike  Wt  and  the  centre,  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour 
of  ike  right;    Their  fire  had  just  commenced,  when  the 
right  wing  iuivanced  upon  the  enemy's  front.    A  sangui- 
nary fi^t  immediatdy  followed:  the  houses  were  despe- 
ratehrassuled;  the  British,  who  were  stationed  behind 
the  fences,  vigjnrously  charged  upon;  and  their  whole  body 
obliged  a  thira  ttmfe  to  fly.    Rapid  pursuit  was  instantly 
given  to  them.    The  British  and  Inaians*drew  the  Ame- 
ricans into  the  wood,  in  their  rear,  and  again  rallying 
their  forces,  several  time»  intrepidly  attempted,  under  the 
direction  of  miijor  Reynolds  to  break  the  American  line. 
The  fi^t  became  close  and  extremely  hot,  upon  the 
•rig^t  wingy  but  the  whole  line  maintained  its  ground,  re- 
pwsed  every  attempt,  followed  up  the.  enemy  each  time 
as  he  fell  back,  and  kept  him  t\Vo  miles  on  the  retreat 
und^  a  continual  charge.    At  length,  after  having  obsti- 
nately contended  asainst  the  American  arms  upwards  of 
three  hours,  the  British  and  Indians  were  entirely  dis- 
persed, and  carrying  off  all  their  wounded,  and  as  many 
of  their  dead  as  they  could  collect,  they  retired  from  the 
field^ leaving  15  of  their  wsMrriors  behind.  The  American 
loss  amounted  to  12  killed  and  55  wounded.    The  gal- 
lantry of  the  officers  of  the  detachments,  left  no  chance 
of  discrimination  to  the  commandant.  Most  of  them  have 
been  already  mentioned  in  reference  to  their  conduct 
on  other  occasions.    The  coolness  of  the  men  was  such, 
that  whilst  they  were  assaulting  and  driving  the  enemy 
from  the  houses,  not  a  woman  or  child  inhabiting  them 
was  hurt     Colonel  Lewis  encamped  upon  the  same 
ground  whi^h  had  been  previously  occupied  by  the  ene- 
my.   He  had  captured  some  public  property,  and  pro- 
tected the  inhabitants  thus  far  from  the  apprehended 
cruelty  of  the  Indians,  and  he  now  made  preparaticllis  to 
maintain  lus  position  until  he  should  be  jomea  by  general 
Winchester.^  v-n.^9lJAi,i-rAi>- ^r  •— ■ 

On  the  20th  January,  the' trdopg  under  general  Win- 
chester arrived,  and  when  the  whole  were  concentrated, 
tliey  did^  not  eaK«ed  750  men.    600  were  posted  in  pic- 


OF  THE  IJkTB  WAR. 


lOS 


•  howitzer 
Lcing  witn 
id  was  ex- 
y.  Majors 
move  up, 
i  in  favour 
when  the 
A  sangui- 
ere  despe- 
ed  behind 
irhole  body 
I  instantly 
the  Ame- 
a  rallying 
under  the 
irican  line, 
upon  the 
round,  re- 
each  time 
the  retreat 
ving  obsti- 
pwards  of 
tirely  di's- 
1  as  many 
I  from  the 
American 
The  gal- 
10  chance 
em  have 
conduct 
as  such, 
enemy 
[ng  them 
le  same 
1  the  ene- 
ind  pro- 
shended 
iiiifhs  to 
I  general 

i\  Win- 
itrated, 
I  in  pic- 


cruets,  and  150  composing  the  right  wing  were  emcamped 
in  an  open  field.    On  the  morninff  of  the  22d,  at  revetlU» 
a  combined  force  under  TecumsM  and  colonel  Proctor,  of 
2,100  men,  attacked  the  encampment    The  alarm  gun 
was  immediately  fired,  and  the  troops  ready  for  the  recep* 
tion  of  the  assailants.    The  attack  commenced  witii  a 
heavy  fire  of  small  arms,  r^iid  the  discharge  of  six  pieces 
of  artillery,  directed  immediately  at  the  temporary  breast- 
work behind  which  the  left  wiii^  was  stationed.  The  ridit 
wins  was  attacked  with  great  violence,  and  sustained  u\e 
conflict  about  20  minutes,  but  being  outnumbered  and 
overpow  red,  was  obliged  to  retreat  across  the  river.  Two 
companies,  of  50  men  each,  sallied  out  of  the  breast- 
work to  their  assistance,  but  retreated  with  them.    A 
large  body  of  the  Indians  had  been  stationed  in  the  rear 
of  the  encampment,  before  the  attack  commenced,  who 
either  made  prisoners  of,  or  cut  off,  the  retreatine  party. 
The  left  wing  maintain^  its  ground  within  the  (nc<]^uett^ 
Three  furious  onsets  were  made  upon  it  by  the  Brilidi 
41st,  each  of  whioh  was  received  with  distinguished  cool- 
ness, and  each  of  which  terminated  in  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy.    In  the  desperate  resistance  which  was  made  to 
the  chains  of  this  regiment,  30  of  it^  men  were  killed, 
and  between  90  and  100  wounded.  When  the  right  wing 
was  discovered  to  be  retreating,  every  effort  was  used  to 
form  them  in  some  order  of  action,  either  to  repel  the 
pursuers,  or  to  regain  tiie  tempolN^iy  breastwtArk,  from 
behind  which,  the  remaining  part  of  the  troops  were  still 
pllantly  defending  themselves.    General  Winchester's 
head  quarters  were  several  hundred  yards  from  the  en- 
campment, he  therefore  was  not  in  the  first  of  the  en- 
gagement, but  he  hM  no  sooner  arrived  at  the  ground, 
than  he,  colonel  Lewis,  and  some  others,  who  were  at- 
tempting to  rally  the  fiyins  ri^t  wing,  were  taken  pri- 
soners.   The  remainder  of  the  battle  was  fought  in  con- 
fusion, and  was  rather  a  proof  of  the  bravery  of  the 
Americans,  than  of  any  regard  which  they  had  for  tiie 
order  of  the  fi^t  They  saw  the  great  disparity  of  force, 
and  knew  how  much  their  own  had  been  weakened  by  the 
destruction  of  the  right  wing.    But  they  continued  to 
repel  every  charge  of  the*  assailants,  until  11  o'clock, 
when  an  order  was  received,  by  a  flag  from  the  enemy, 
by  which  it  appeared^  that  general  Winchester  was  as- 


104 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


rir    ii 


Ufil 


ii     '^-i 


h 


ftured,  that  unless  the  troops  of  his  command  were  imme- 
diately surrendered,  the  ouiMingS  in  Frenchtown  would 
be  set  on  fire,  and  timt  no  re^nsibilitj  would  be  taken 
for  the  conduct  of  the  savages,  who  composed  the  largest 
part  of  the  enemy^  force:  that  to  save  the  lives  of  the 
remaining  portion  of  his  brave  troops,  he  had  agreed  to 
surrender  them  prisoners  of  war,  on  condition  of  their 
being  protected  from  the  savages^  of  their  being  allowed 
to  retain  tii^ir  priva^te  property,  and  of  having  their  side 
arms  returned  to  them.  35  officers,  and  487  non-com- 
missioned  officers  and  privates  were  accordinglj  surron- 
dered,  after  having  fousht  with  small  arms,  agamst  artil- 
lery, for  6  hours;  and  Deing  all  that  time  surrounded  by 
Indians  resorting  to  their  usual  terrific  ydils.  The  loss 
of  the  Americans  was  22  officers,  and  ^5  non-commis^~ 
sioned  officers  and  privates  killed  and  missing  and  3 
officers  and  22  privates  wounded,  who  were  among  the 
prisoners  surrendered.  The  enemy's  loss*  except  that  of 
the  41st  regulars,  could  not  be  ascertained,  every  means 
being  used  to  prevent  a  discovery.  It  has  been  supjjosed, 
however,  that  li  was  littie  less  than  that  of  the  Americans. 
Colonel  Proctor  afterwards  stated  H)  in  his  (^cial  com- 
munidition,  to  be  24  killed,  and  158  wound^ed. 

The  events  which  followed  the  surrender  of  the  Ame- 
rican armf^  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  make  the  heart  of 
man  recoil  from  their  recital,  and  to  deprive  their  record- 
er, at  a  more  distant  day,  of  that  dejgree  of  tempe>-ance, 
which  ought  ever  to  be  inseparable  from  candid  and  im- 
partial narration.  Facts,  which  have  been  established 
beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt;  which  have  been  testified 
by  the  solemn  affirmations  of  the  officers  of  the  captured 
army,  and  admitted  by  those  of  the  enen^;  and  which 
took  place  immediately  under  the  eye  of  the  conquering 
commander,  ou^t  not  to  be  withheld  from  the  world; 
the  fidelity  of  history  will  not  allow  them  to  be  magnified, 
its  steady  impartiality  will  neither  permit  them  to  be  ex- 
tenuated. 

Destitute  of  the  common  principles  of  sacred  humtiiity, 
and  regardless  of  the  civilized  usages  of  honourable  war- 
fare, the  allied  British  and  Indian  forces,  no  sooner  re- 
ceived the  surrender  of  the  vanquished,  thou^  brave 
defenders  of  the  invaded  territory,  than  they  assailed 
them  with  their  tomhawks  and  scalping  knives,  and  strip- 
ped them  of  their  property  and  dotning.  When  the  right 


1  were  imme- 
[itown  would 
»uld  be  taken 
d  the  lai^st 
i  lives  of  Ihe 
ad  agreed  to 
Ltion  of  tiieir 
eing  allowed 
tig  their  side 
87  non-com- 
ingljsurron- 
against  artil- 
irrounded  by 
s.  The  loss 
non-commis^~ 
ssing^  and  3 
*e  among  the 
scept  tfutt  of 
every  means 
en  supposed} 
i  Americans, 
(^cial  com- 
d. 

)f  the  Ame- 
the  heart  of 
heir  record- 
jmpevance, 
lid  and  im- 
Lestablished 
(en  testified 
captured 
land  which 
conquering 
"le  world; 
[magnified, 
to  be  ex- 

[humuiity, 
ible  war- 
iooner  re- 
breve 
assailed 
idstrijp- 
the  right 


OF  THE  LATE  WAU. 


105 


wiiue  fell  b^rV^i^  ^ut  40  mcfn,  under  lieutenant  Isalu; 
L.  Baker,  ^  .re  attempting  to  escape,  an  offer  of  protec- 
tion was  made  to  tiiem,  on  conditiOh  of  their  surrender. 
Lieutenant  Baker  very  gladly  yielded^  to  tiie. proposal  for 
the  safety  of  his  men,  but  the  proffered  protection  did  not 
follow.  One  half  of  his  party  were  butchered  and  Idi 
naked  on  the  field,  and  himself  and  the  remainder  march- 
ed back  to  colonel  Proctor^  camp.  They  gave  up  their 
arms  to  j:hc  Indians,  and  defenceless  as  they  were,  many 
of  them  who  brought  up  the  rear  as  prisoners,  werci  mas- 
sacred on  the  march.  When  general  Winchester  was 
captured,  in  the  act  of  pursuing  and  rallying  the  ri^t 
wing,  the  same  solemn  assurances  of  protection  were  giv- 
en to  him,  on  condition  of  his  ordering  tlie  whole  detach- 
ment to  surrender.  His  humanity  induced  him  to  com- 
ply ;  but,  when  the  troops  were  brou^t  within  the  British 
camp,  tiieir  side  arms  and  accoutrements  were  taken  from 
them,  and  presented  to  the  savofres.  They  were  then  left 
in  custody  of  the  Indians,  who  were  instrupted  to  fol- 
low the  British  regulars  to  Maiden,  to  which  place  the 
prisoners  w^e  to  be  conducted.  The  wounded  prisoners 
Were  more  likely  to  become  the  objects  of  Indian  resent-^ 
ment,  and  tiie  American  general  remonstreted,  therefore, 
with  the  commanding  British  .officer  on  the  necessity  of 
their  being  removed  by  th\^.  regulars.  To  this  remon- 
strance, a  pled^  vfm  given,  that  such  prisoners  should  be 
attended  to.  They  were  left  behind,  however,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  2Sd,  the  Indians  fired  many  houses  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  burnt  the  prisoners  who  had  beien  placed 
within  them.  Being  then  in  n-iadiness  to  march,  they  ar- 
ranged other  prisonei  3  in  that  or^ier,  and  on  finding  that 
many  of  them  could  not  walks  in  consequence  of  the  se* 
verity  of  their  wounds,  they  immediately  stripped  them, 
Stood  them  up  for  targets,  and  after  killing,  tomhawked, 
and  scalped  them.  Numbers  who  attempted  the  march 
to  avoid  so  dreadful  a  fate,  became  exhausted  on  the  wayj 
and.  received  the  same  treatment  in  the  presence  of  their 
afilicted  fellow  prisoners.  Among  those  who  were  placed 
in  this  situation,  was  an  officer,  whose  case  was  of  tiie 
most  unparalleled  atrocity.    Captain  N.  G.  8.  Hart,*  of 

*  Captain  Hart  was  brother-in-lpw  to  Henry  Clay,  one  of  the 
American  commissioners  at  Ghent,  and  speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States. 


ii. 


If 


i 


'i    s^i 


I?' 


106 


UISTORICAX  8KBTCBK8 


Lexington,  who  had,  on  several  occasions,  but  on  this  par* 
ticqknj,  8ig;^izea  himself  hy  jus  undoiuited  bravery, 
and  who  received  a  fiesh  wound  in  the  knee,  in  the  early 
fNirt  of  the  engagement,  on  being  surrendered  with  the 
troops,  was  immediately  recognized  by  colonel  Elliot^*  an 
Americ<in  by  birth,  who  had  &en  a  class  mate  of  captain 
Hart,  at  an  American  college,  and  who  bad  long  been  no- 
torious for  his  acti^ty  in  exciting  the  sava^s  to  arm 
themselves  against  his  fellow  citizens.  In  tbts  action  he 
was  bearing  arms  agunst  his  own  countrymen,  and  on 
discovering  the  companion  of  his  youth,  in  the  hands  of 
the  savages,  he  felt  tnat  degree  of  national  sympathy,  of 
which  no  man,'  however  vile,  can  entirely  divest  himself; 
and,  without  being  solicited,,  made  a  {H'omise  of  his  pro- 
tectimi,  and  ij£  providing  a  conveyance  to  Maiden,  which 
would  place  captain  Ha^  under  his  sujperintendence,  un- 
til his  recovery  should  be  ellfected.  But  colonel  Elliot's 
Sromise  was  foreotten.  He  departed,  and  a  band  of  In- 
ians  entered  the  house  iti  which  captain  Hart  lay,  and 
tore  him  from  his  bed ;  one  of  his  mother  officers  then 
conveyed  him  to  another  apartment,  where  he  was  again 
assailed.  He  at  length  induced  tiie  Indian^  to  agree  to 
take  him  to  Maiden,  under  the  promise  of  a  Im^  reward. 
They  proceeded  but  five  n\iles  on  the  road,  before  they 
shot  him,  while  on  his  horse,  and  to<^  his  scalp.  The  fate 
of  colonel  Allen,  captains  M'Cracken,  Woodfolk,  Hick- 
man, and  otiier  officers,  was  no  le98  unfortunate  dian  that 
of  captain  Hart 

'Wnen  the  surviving  prisoners,  officers  and  men,  arriv- 
ed at  Maiden,  the  savages  were  allowed  to  sell  ^em,  and 
many  of  the  American  citizens,  who  had  been  permitted 
to  remain  in  the  town  of  Detroit  for  temporary  purposes, 
stept  forward  to  ransom  them;  but  when  colonel  Proctor 
discovered,  that,  by  this  means,  they  obtained  their  re- 
lease, he  issued  an  order  forbidding  any  future  exchanges 
of  prisoners  for  money.  Most  of  the  officers,  and  many 
of  the  men,  among  the  volunteers,  were  of  tiie  first  re- 
spectability, holding  offices  of  high  trust,  members  of  the 
confess  of  the  United  States,  and  accustomed  to  those 
refinements  which  result  from  wealth  and  education. 
They  had  left  the  ease  and  affluence  with  which  their 
homes  abounded,  to  obey  the  voice  of  their  invaded  coun- 

*  A  native  of  Maryland. 


4>F  THB  LATE  WAB. 


lor 


nil  this  par- 
d  brftveiy, 
n  tke  etriy 
d  with  the 
i  Elliot^*  an 
oi  captain 
ng  been  no- 
es to  um 
»  action  he 
m,  and  on 
le  hands  of 
mpathy,  of 
sst  himself; 
of  his  pro- 
den,  which 
idence,  un- 
nel  Elliotts 
>and  of  In- 
rt  lay,  and 
ficers  then 
i  was  again 
Co  agree  to 
ge  reward, 
lefore  they 
The  fate 
blk,  Hick- 
than  that 

len,  arriv- 
them,  and 
permitted 

Jurposes, 
Proctor 
their  re- 
xchanges 
ind  many 
5  firit  re- 
rs  of  the 
to  those 
lucation. 
1  their 
led  coun- 


ixjt  &nd  had  encountered  all  kinds  of  hardships  in  their 
dd&rent  marches^  These  men,  while  prisoners  at  Mai- 
den, were  treated  with  that  handity  superciliousness, 
which  belongs  not  to  the  noble  soluer,  nor  to  the  enlight- 
ened man.  • 

Judge  Woodward,  of  the  supreme  court  of  th,e  Michi- 
gan territiHry,  rendered  every  asustance  to  the  prisoners, 
widiin  the  power  of  an  individuid,  and  by  the  influence 
which  he  had  acc]^uired<)yer  the  British  commander,  great- 
ly alleviated  their  misfortunes.    He  boldly  chaiged  the 
enemy  with  the  enormities  which  bad  been  comn^itted, 
and  informed  colonel  Proctor,  after  having  supplied  him, 
by  his  own  directions,  with  affidavits  which  substantiated 
all  the  hci»,  that  **  the  truth  would  undtmbtedhf  tventw- 
"  ally  appear,  and  that,  that  unfortunate  dajjfmw^t  meet 
**,  the  steady  and  impartial  eye  of  history,':^    Colonel  Proc- 
tor endeavoured  to  extenuate  the  facts,  made  no  denial  of 
their  occurrence,  but  alleged  that  no  capitulation  was  en- 
tered into;  that  the  prisoners  surrentlmd  at  discretion ; 
and  thatj  therefore,  it  was  n(rt  necessary  to  control  tiie 
Indians.    The  battie  was  officially  announced  to  the  Ca- 
nadian people,  from  the  heiid  quarters  of  the  commander 
in  chief,  the  governor  generall    His  communication  in- 
formed them,  mat  another  brillianiaction  had  been  siehiev- 
ed,by  the  division  of  the  army  under  colonel  Proctor,  and 
admitted  that  the  loss  of  the  Americans  was  great,  because 
the  Indian  warriors  had  cut  m  all  wh#  attempted  to  es- 
cape.   T^he  Indian  chi^,  Bovmd  Head,  he  said^  had  ren- 
dered essential  Services,  by  his  bravery  and  good  conduct, 
and  colonel  Proctor  had  nobly  displaced  his  ffiillantry,by 
his  humane  and  unwearied  eopertions  in  rescuing  the  van- 
quishedfrom  the  revengeof  the  Indians;  for  ^ich  good 
conduct  he  was  promoted,  until  the  pleasure  of  the  pnnce 
regent  should  be  known,  to  the  rank  of  a  brigadier  gene- 
ral in  Upper  Canada.    The  general  orders  concluded,  by 
ordering  *'a  sidute  of  21  guns,  to  be  fired  on  tids  glon- 
ous  occasion.'* 

General  Harrison  having  heard  of  the  exposed  situation 
of  general  Winchester's  troops,  had  ordered  a  detachment 
from  general  Perkin*s  brig^def  to  rairch  under  miyor  Cot- 
groves,  to  his  relief;  but  they  did  not  reach  Frenchtown 
before  the  battie,  and  immediately  on  their  return  U>  the 
Rapids,  at  which  place  general  Harrison  was  tiien  station- 
ed, he  fiell  back  18  miles  to  the  carrying  river,  in  order 


i  j 


\ 


'U 


ls^i\ 


t  i  '. 


ii  ! 


I.I 


''i! 


m 


1 1 


,1 . 


108 


BI»T<atKCA]:.8XBTCRE^ 


to  for^e  a  junction  witli  the  trocqM  jii  the  |<(par,  a^ 
v^ffhe  eoavoy^  of  artiUery  and  stoits*  then  commfpom 
IJ^Iier  Sanduskj.  \Fit>m  this  blit6e7he4^f»atchea  a  ^ 

(^  truce  with  aaurgeon  to^lkfalden»taa^ni'to'^c>  ci^>^- 
tiired  sick  and  wounded ;  his  flag  was  not  respecled/how- 
eyer»  and  one  of  the  suEgeon's  ii»»nipara^Qa  was  Jdlled, 
and  himseU'  wounded  and  takeir  prisoner. 

A  stroQff  defire-  now  preyailed  amoi%  the  ttroops  to 
avenge  the  Joss  of  tiiett'  hraye  hr^thren  in  ari^  andgov- 
emor  lii^^  havii^  mmptly  forwarded  two  regiments  of 
Ohio  militia  to  remrorce  general  Harrison,  hex^n  ad- 
vanced to  the  Ka^dSr  and  coimnenced  imildinr  a  fort^ 
which  has  since  been  ren4er^  memorable  under  the 
nam^  of  £»rt  W&e^  Fortificatidns  wsre  at  the  same  time 
constructed  M  .t^»er  Sandu^j*^  iinder  the  direction  of 
general  Prooks*-  Whibt  th^e  precautionary  measnres 
were  adopted,  for  the  proleetion  o^  the  iiwxpB,  and  the 
defence  jpf  the  territory,  detached  par^awei^fr^^ 
^indulged  in  short  exciUB8iiui%  none  of  Winch  leMuted  in 
uiy  malerial^idyaatage*  In  <ine  of  these,  ^e  commander 
in  chiefs  hip^K  maich^  inJPr§$fue48kiAi  ^e  head  ef  a 
detachment, ^po^  beariiit^thata  tody  of in^wna  had-col- 
liected^  at  that  place;  bttt  theliMilpMi4ed,athM  approach, 
too  rapid) J  to  be  oyeriiifcen^.  aind  Wtetarnedio  nw  en- 
canipmen^  after  having  marched  60  milea  in  SI -hours. 

No  ev^  of  anj4:onsequettce  occurred  during  the  re- 
mainder of  dw  winter.  The  unanthoriMd  movement  Of 
feneral  Winchester,  was  en^ely  iubversive  of  general 
[arrispn*c  plans,  and  so  contrary  to  ins  arran^iiients, 
that  the  whole  system  of  oi^uuzation  was  agun  to  be 
gone  over.  Gener^  Harrison  therefore  left  the  troops 
strei^theninff  the  posts  of  fort  Meigs,  Upper  Bandusky, 
and  fort  Stephenson,  whilst  he  returned  to  Ohio,  to  con- 
sult with  the  governor,  to  accelerate  the  miarch  of  the  re- 
infc^cements,  and  to  expedite  the  transportation  of  addi- 
tional stores.  He  had  i|ot  been  long  absent  from  fort 
Meigs,  before  the  garrison  was  threatened  with  an  attack. 
New  levies  were  hastily  made  from  Ohio  and  Kentucky^ 
but  as  they  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  resist  the  enemy,, 
now  collecting  in  large  numbers  in  ^e  neiehbourhood,  the 
jpennsylvania  bri^de  voluntarily  ^xten£d  its  term  of 
service,  which  had  just  then  expired.  General  Hurison 
was  apprised  Of  this  circumstance  by  despatch,  ahd  re- 


Aiidi'to  ce- 

chedfalbig 
to  ^e  ciq:^- 
icled,  how- 
fas  killed, 

ttrooos  to 
I,  ana  gav^ 
igittents  of 
i^i^n  ad- 
Iqraforti 
uncler  the 
same  time 
irec^n  of 
'^measores 
•.and  the 
fipeqiienlly 
?e6iHted  in 
Qpimander 
i  head  of  a 
IS  had«oi- 
approack, 
<  lug  cn- 
heufB*  ~ 

the  r©- 
'^cnttif 
\f  general 
i^ients, 
tn  to  be 
troops 
tndusky, 
to  con* 
the  re- 
of  addi- 
fort 
attack, 
ntucky* 
enemy,. 
l,the 
;erm  of 
larrison 
id  re- 


OF  THE  XATB  WAR. 


109 


turned  with  all  possible  expedition  to  the  earrii^on.  He 
arrired  on  the  ^Oth  April  (1813),  and  ma£  instant  pre- 
paration for  an  approaching  6ieg<;.  The  fort  was  situated 
on  a  comnianding  eminence,  and  well  supplied  with 
every  necessary  munition  of  war;  but  eeneral  Harrison 
being  desirous  of  putting  his  men  in  ^e  best  *  possible 
gtate  of  Security,  was  every  day  erectii^  fortifications  of 
different  descnptions.  The  troops  in  the  garrison  Were 
animated  and  zealous  in  the  cause  of  their  country,  and 
their  exertions  without  parallel.  On  the  28th,  captain 
HamHton  was  sent  out  with  a  patrolling  party.  About 
three  miles  down  the  river,  he  discovered  the  enemy  in 
great  force,  approaching  fort  Meigs,  and  im^he^iately 
communicated  his  discovery  to  the  general.  Ail  express 
was  then  sent  to  eeneral  Green  Clay,  who  comn^anaed  a 
brigade  of  1200  Kentuckians,  with  an  order  for  his  imme- 
diate march  to  fdrt  Meigs.  Greneral  Harrison  actdressed 
the  troops;  informed  them  of  the  vital  importance  if  every 
man's  being  vigilant  and  industrious  at  fiis  post ;  i|nd  re- 
ceived assurances  that  none  of  them  would  abandon  their 
duty.  A  few  British  and  a  body  of  Indians  commenced 
a  very  brisk  fire  from  the  opposite  shore,  l|)ut  the  distance 
was  too  great  to  do  injury.  Their  fire  was  returned  from 
two  18  poundei-s,  ana  they  retired  and  concealed  them- 
selves from  the  view  of  the  fort  In  th^  evening,  the 
enemy  crossed  the  river  in  boats,  and  selected  the  best 
situations  about  the  fort,  to  throw  up  work«  for  the  pro- 
tection of  their  battering  cannon.  The  garrison  was  com- 
pletely surrounded,  ana  preparations  were  |ctive,  upon 
one  side  to  storm  the  fort,  and  on  the  other  'to  repel  the 
most  vigorous  assault.  Several  dragoons  who  had  offered 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  camp,  md  not  proceeded  far 
from  the  fort,  when  they  were  nred  on,  and  one  of  them 
was  shot  through  the  arm.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
29th,  the  Indians  fired  into  the  fort  with  their  nftes,  and 
mortally  wounded  a  man  who  was  talking  witfi  the  gene- 
ral— a  constant  firing  was  kept  up  c^n  both  sides  during 
the  whole  day.  Several  men  in  the  g^irrison  were  sli^tly 
wounded,  and  a  number  of  the  enem^'  killed.  The  Brit- 
ish batteries  had  been  so  far  constructtd  during  the  night, 
that  sufficient  protection  was  afforded  to  him  to  work  by 
daylight  Numbers  of  shot  were  thrqwn  into  the  breast- 
works to  impede  their  proffress,  but  before  night,  they 


no 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


had  three  batteries  erected,  two  with  four  embrasures 
each,  and  one  bomb  battery.  On  the  morning  of  the 
30th,  the  besiegers  were  discovered  to  have  extended 
their  batteries,  and  to  be  preparing  them  for  the  cannon. 
Their  progress  in  doing  tnis,  was  retarded  by  a  well  di- 
rected and  constant  fire  from  the  besieged.  They  were 
observed  to  carry  away  men  from  the  batteries,  by  which 
it  was  supposed  that  the  fire  from  the  fort  had  either  kill- 
ed or  wounded  many  of  them. 

General  Harrison  having  a  suspicion  that  the  enemy 
intended  to  surprise  and  storm  the  garrison  in  its  rear, 
from  the  circumstance  of  a  number  of  boats  having  re- 
peatedly crossed  from  the  old  British  ffarrison  to  the  side 
on  which  stood  the  American  fort,  each  loaded  with  men ; 
he  gave  orders  for  one-third  of  the  troops  to  be  constant* 
ly  on  guard,  and  the  remainder  to  sleep  with  their  mus- 
kets in  their  arms,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  fly  to  their 
posts  at  any  moment.  The  Indians  occupied  all  tiie  ad- 
vantageous positions  round  the  fort,  and  to  this  and  many 
other  discouraging  circumstances,  was  added  the  want  of 
water,  which  was  supplied  only  from  the  river,  whence  a 
few  men  each  night  were  obliged  to  obtain  enou^  for 
the  ^rrison  for  the  succeeding  aay.  This  they  did  at  an 
imminent  risk  of  their. lives,  the  Indians  being  always  on 
the  alert  During  this  day  (30th,)  there  were  several  kill- 
ed and  wounded  on  both  sides.  In  the  night,  a  gun  boat 
which  had  been  towed  up  the  river  by  the  enemy,  was 
placed  near  the  fort,  and  kept  up  a  fire  at  intervals  upon 
it.  Not  one  ball  entered  it,  however,  and  on  the  morning 
of  May  Ist,  she  moved  off,  after  having  discharged  30 
shot  without  effect  This  morning  the  grand  traverse,  at 
which  the  men  had  been  some  time  engaged,  was  nearly 
finished,  and  several  inferior  ones  were  commenced  in 
different  directions.  The  American  garrison  was  now  in 
very  excellent  condition;  and  as  soon  as  the  well  should 
be  finished,  would  defy  the  utmost  power  of  the  besiegers. 
At  about  10  o'clock,  the  enemy  had  one  cannon  prepared. 
With  that  he  kept  up  a  brisk  fire.  In  the  course  of  the 
day,  he  opened  several  pieces  on  the  fort,  and  before 
night,  he  had  in  operation  one  24  pounder,  one  12,  one  6, 
and  a  howitzer,  from  which  he  fired  260  shot  durins  the 
day,  without  doing  any  material  injury  to  fort  Meigs; 
though  one  man  was  wounded  mortally,  two  badly,  and 


our  embrasures 
morning  of  the 
have  extended 
for  the  cannon, 
id  by  a  well  di- 
d.  Thej  were 
eries,  by  which 
had  eitberkill. 

iat  the  enemy 
son  in  its  rear, 
)at8  having  re- 
>on  to  the  side 
led  with  men; 
o  be  conatant- 
ith  their  mus- 
to  fly  to  their 
ed  all  the  ad- 
his  and  many 
d  the  want  of 
ifer,  whence  a 
in  enough  for 
lieydidatan 
ng  always  on 
!  several  kill- 
t»agun  boat 
enemy,  was 
itervals  upon 
the  morning 
scharged  30 
i  traverse,  at 
,  was  nearly 
maaenced  in 
was  now  in 
well  should 
le  besiegers. 
>n  prepared, 
►urse  of  the 
and  before 
B  12,  one  6, 
duriiiff  the 
ort  Meigs; 
badly,  and 


OF  THE  lATB  WAH. 


'owing  day  fid  )  iXt  u^^S  was  continue!?  ?   -^  silenced 

,^th  CStv     t5  ^"^^  and  cTnin^.f  ^  ^'  *  fierce 

Amerfcan  fort^  !**^."P**«  ^^e  rear  S  J"f  *  ^"^^ 
l^  PromptlyJeturn  .  "**2^  «^  sJS  X,  ^'^S^  ?^*e 
^'^ey  cont&uid  ff  SI  ^'  '\'**^  several  timi  -i  ^^^''^'^ 
ascended  thetet^nJ^^^^  ^-IP^S  tJ»e  d^r  Thf^.^"* 
n^-ed  into  it  wiSi  i  •    ®. '*«»g^bourhriodYf  .f  H^'^^a^s 

of  theda^\,£K"^'^n,  which  felM"""**.  *»  "* 
fflcer  who  ^A  T'^^  with  bZ?*"  "^  *«  88(h  „|. 


«imediatell^t*;«"n«fewhow^h*»*«'e  whole 

I  SjMS^d  with  the  f^*?.  "<««.    Coton^Xdf  '™»- 

sortie.   Colon.l  n  J.  •  *  ">f«ntry,  was  *„     ^°  Lionel 
which  thev  h« J  P""'V  landed  his  m*^  f    ««mimind  the 

f?«r  batgrie?  we^';""?"*  'f  the  Brf'^l  "f^hed  them 


Nr  M^"^^  we- iT*  •'•«'*  B„?^sh  T^  **•» 
the  British  J^f^'"»*;n«y  ««rried.7?t»  "S?t '^  "^he 
In  pursuance^^  *"''  Canadian  miliS     ^P**^'  «>d 

to  have  cros^thft-'"'  *«  -bject  of  Wg\!5^"»«'  J^Sd- 

r  much  elated  at  tr""  *»  <"»«  Mefe  TJ^Jt"*"*  "^t 

»«a  at  the  success  of  S  «   ?'f  "•«»  '^re 

«>«ir  first  battle,  tint 


-  iia 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


I  .'  i 


they  became  desirous  of  pursuing  and  capturing  the  re* 
treating  enemy.  An  immense  oody  of  Indians,  at  that 
time  marching  to  the  British  camp,  were  met  by  the  re- 
gulars as  they  retired.  With  these  they  formed,  and  put- 
tmg  the  Indians  in  ambush,  they  made  a  feint  to  draw 
colonel  Dudley's  men  into  the  woods,  in  which  they  too 
well  succeeded.  The  Indians  came  from  their  ambus- 
cade, and  attacked  the  brave  but  indiscreet  Kentuckians. 
A  sevfire  engagement  took  place,  which  terminated  in 
the  d^th  or  capture  of  almost  the  whole  detachment, 
and  which  was  followed  by  the  same  kind  of  massacre, 
though  not  to  the  same  extent,  that  succeeded  the  sur- 
render at  Raisin.  The  British  intercepted  the  retreat  of 
colonel  Dudley  to  the  river,  whei*e  he  would  have,  been 
protected  by  tne  guns  of  fort  Meigs,  and  only  150  men, 
out  of  800,  effected  their  escape.  45  were  tomhawked; 
and  colonel  Dudley,  their  gallant  leader,  was  among  the 
killed.  He  is  said  $o  have  shot  one  of  the  Indians,  after 
being  himself  mortally  wounded.  The  remainder  of  ge- 
neral Clay's  brigade  assailed  a  body  of  Indians  in  me 
wood,  near  the  fort,  and  would  have  been  also  drawn 
into  an  ambush,  had  not  general  Harrison  ordered  a  party 
of  dragoons  to  sally  out,  and  protect  their  retreat  to  the 
fort 

The  contemplated  sortie  was  intended  to  have  been 
simultaneous  vnih  the  attack  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river;  but  the  impetuosity  of  colonel  Dudley's  troops, 
defeated  this  project,  and  colonel  Miller,  with  part  of  tne 
19th  and  a  body  of  militia,  in  all  350  men,  sallied  forth, 
after  the  Indians  were  apprised  of  tiie  attack  upon  the 
old  batteries.  He  assaulted  the  whole  line  of  their  works, 
which  was  defended,  as  has  since  been  ascertained,  by 
200  regulars,  150  militia,  and  4  or  500  Indians,  and  after 
several  brilliant  and  intrepid  charges,  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing the  enemy  from  lus  principal  batteries,  and  in  spiking 
the  cannon.  He  then  returned  to  the  fort  witii  42  pn- 
soners,  among  whom  were  two  lieutenants.  The  nrst 
charge  was  made  on  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  by  the 
battalion  of  major  Alexander,  the  second  on  the  regulars 
and  Indians,  by  col<mel  Miller's  regulars,  the  officers  of 
which  were  captains  Croghan,  Lan^m,  Bradford,  Nea- 
rinff,  and  lieutenant  Campbell,  and  a  company  of  Ken- 
tuccuans,  commanded  by  captiim  Sabrie,  who  distinguish- 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


113 


ed  himself  in  the  first  affair  at  Frenchtown.  This  com- 
pany maintained  its  sround  with  more  ^rmness  than  could 
have  been  expecteu  from  a  hasty  levy  of  nuilitia,  xad 
a^inst  four  times  its  number.  It  was  at  length,  however, 
surrounded  by  Indians,  and  would  have  been  entirely  cut 
off,  had  not  lieutenant  Gw^ne,  of  the  12^,  charged  the 
Indians  with  part  of  captfun  Elliot's  company,  and  re^ 
leased  the  Kentuckians. 

On  the  6th,  hostilities  seemed  to  have  ceased  on  both 
sides.  The  besieged  sent  do¥^n  a  fla^  by  major  Hukill, 
to  attend  to  the  comforts  of  the  American  wounded  and 
prisoners,  which  returned  with  the  British  major  Cham* 
bers;  between  whom  and  th<s  garrison,  some  arrangements 
were  made  about  sending  home  Hie  prisoners  by  Clev^ 
land.  On  the  Tth,  there  was  a  continuation  of  bad  wea- 
ther. Flags  were  passing  to,  and  from,  the  two  armies, 
durins  the  whole  day,  and  arrangements  were  entered 
into.  By  which  the  American  militia  were  to  be  sent  to 
Huron,  to  return  home  by  that  route,  and  the  Indians 
were*  to  relinquish  their  claim  to  the  prisoners  taken  on 
the  opposite  shore,  and  to  receive  in  exchange  for  them, 
a  number  of  Wvandots,  who  had  been  captured  in  the 
sallies  of  the  5tn.  During  the  8tb,  the  excnange  and  in- 
tercourse of  flags  continued,  and  a  promise  was  made 
by  the  British,  to  furnish  general  Harrison  with  a  list  of 
the  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  which  however  was 
not  complied  with.  On  the  9th,  the  enemy  was  observed 
to  be  abandoning  his  works,  a  sloop  and  several  sun  boats 
had  been  brou^t  up  in  the  night,  and  were  receiving  the 
cannon*— on  being  discovered,  a  few  guns  from  fort  Meigs 
obliged  them  to  relinquish  their  design,  and  by  10  o'clock, 
the  siege  was  raised,  and  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  forces 
were  on  their  retreat. 

Thus  terminated  a  siege  of  13  days,  in  which  the  Brit- 
ish commander,  general  Proctor,  promised  the  Indian 
allies,  that  the  American  garrison  should  be  reduced,  and 
its  defenders  delivered  over  to  them  as  prisoners  of  war. 
1800  shells  and  cannon  balls  had  been  fired  into  the  fort, 
and  a  continual  dischai^e  of  small  arms  had  been  kept 
up,  yet  the  American  loss  was  only  81  killed  and  189 
wounded:  17  only  of  the  former  during  the  siege,  the 
remainder  in  tiie  sortie,  and  the  different  assaults  of  the 
5th.    Of  the  latter,  124  were  wounded  in  the  sortie,  and 

K2 


»'■%. 


U4 


HI8T0BICAJ*  8KBTGBE8 


M 


66  during  the  siege.  Hie  loss  of  the  United  States  re* 
galars  was  156  in  killed  and  wounded;  that  of  the  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio  militia,  and  the  tweWe  months'  volun- 
teers, 114.  But  Kentucky,  as  on  other  occasions,  suf- 
fered the  most  severely,  her  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
amounting  to  72.  The  daring  intrepidity  of  the  citizens 
of  that  state,  had  continually,  and  too  often  with  an  indis- 
creet impetuosity,  led  them  into  the  most  dangerous  sitU"; 
ations.  It  was  to  this,  that  their  defeat  under  colonel 
Dudley  was  to  be  attributed,  and  because  of  this,  that 
they  lost  in  that  affair  300  and  upwards,  in  killed  and 
missing.  But  it  was  to  this  also,  that  the  gratitude  of 
the  whole  nation  was  due,  when,  regardless  of  the  blood, 
which,  in  the  first  stage  of  the  war,  sne  had  already  freely 
and  profusely  shed,  her  citizens  came  forward  ^vith  una- 
bating  alacrity,  and  volunteered  their  services  on  every 
hazardous  expedition. 

The  force  under  general  Proctor,  was  reported  by  de- 
serters to  be  550  regulars,  and  800  militia.  The  number 
of  the  Indians,  was  greater  beyond  comparison  than  had 
ever  been  brought  into  the  neld  before.  They  were 
much  dissatisfied  at  the  failure  of  the  repeated  attacks 
upon  the  fort,  tiie  spoil  of  which  had  been  promised  to 
them— «yet  they  several  times  during  the  sortie,  prevent* 
ed  the  capture  of  the  whole  of  their  allies,  the  British  re^ 
Kulars.  In  one  of  the  assaults,  commanded  bv  captain 
Croghan,  uponta  battery  which  was  defended  by  the  ^ena- 
dier  and  ligbt  infantiy  companies  of  the  4l8t  regiment, 
ihe  enemy  suffered  severely;  and  but  for  the  immediate 
assistance  of  the  Indians,  could:  not  have  effected  a  re- 
treat, which  l^e  visour  of  the  assault  compelled  them 
to  make.^  General  Harrison  caused  not  only  the  ground 
upon  which  the  enemy's  batteries  had  been  erected  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  fort,  but  that  on  which  colonel  Dud- 
ley's battle  had  been  fought,  to  be  strictly  examined;  on 
the  latter,  the  body  of  that  unfortunate  officer  was  dU- 
eovered,  dreadfully  mangled. 

OflKtnsive  preparations  were  now  for  a  time  suspended. 
The  naval  equipments  on  lake  Erie,  were  in  active  for- 
wardness, and  until  these  were  completed,  the  troops 
were  to  remain  at  forts  Meigs  and  Sandusky.  Thefinxes 
at  eitlier  were  adequate  to  its  defence,  and  general  Harri- 
son left  gpeneral  Clay  in  command  of  the  former,  whilst 


states  re* 

the  Ken- 
ha*  volun- 
sions,  Buf- 
i  wounded 
le  citizens 
li  an  indis- 
irous  situ-; 
er  colonel 

this,  that 
lulled  and 
ratitude  of 

the  blood, 
ad^  freely 

^vith  una- 
8  on  every 

•ted  by  dc» 
he  number 
ri  than  had 
liey  were 
;ed  attacks 
omised  to 
5,  prevent- 
Bntish  re- 
captain 
the  ^ena- 
regiment, 
mmediate 
ted  a  re- 
led  them 
e  ground 
d  in  the 
Dud- 
led;  on 
was  di&- 

[spended. 

ttive  for- 

[e  troops 

leffHxes 

Harri- 

whikt 


or  THB  LATE  WAB. 


US 


he  set  out  for  the  latter,  and  tlience  intended  to  repair 
to  Franklinton,  to  forward  new  reinforcements.  In  the 
month  of  June  (1813),  a  gjeneral  council  of  Indian  chiefs 
was  assembled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Seneca  town, 
Lower  Sandusky,  to  which  place  the  head  quarters  ttf 
general  Harrison  had  been  transferred.  The  result  of 
metr  deliberations,  was  an  offer  to  take  up  arms  in  behalf 
of  the  United  States,  and  they  proposeu  to  accompany 
the  general  into  Canada,  But  the  incursions  of  the  hostile 
chieis  were  now  more  frequent  than  before.  Their  depre- 
dations were  extended  along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and 
many  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed  or  made  prisoners. 
A  temporary  check  was  given,  however,  to  their  inroads, 
by  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  who  encountered  and  cut  to 
pieces  a  party  of  the  most  ferocious  of  the  savages.  Colo- 
nel Ball  was  descending  the  Sandusky  with  2S  men,  when 
he  was  fired  upon  by  wout  SO  Indians  from  an  ambush. 
He  charged  upon  and  drove  them  from  their  ambuscade, 
and  after  an  obstinate  contest  upon  a  plain,  favourable 
^  the  operation3  of  cavalry,  he  destroyed  every  chief 
of  the  {larty.  During  the  warmest  of  me  engi^ment, 
he  was  dismounted,  and  in  personal  fight  with  a  warrior 
of  great  strength.  They  fought  with  desjperation  until 
the  colonel  was  relieved  bv  an  officer,  who  shot  down 
the  Indian.  The,  savages  then  became  furious,  and  after 
^ving  their  customary  ugnal^  to  receive  no  quarter,  ther 
made  a  vigorous  onset,  and  kept  up  the  contest  until 
their  whole  band  was  destroyed.  Tnis  affair  produced 
some  terror  among  the  Indians,  and  the  persons  and  nro- 
perty  of  the  inhabitants  were  secured  for  a  while  from 
outrage  and  plunder. 

The  conduct  of"  this  vigilant  and  able  officer,  has  been 
frequently  spoken  of,  in  general  orders.  At  the  repulse 
of  the  besiegers  of  fort  Meigs,  he  was  amtmg  the  most 
conspicuous  of  those  officers  who  vainly  strove  to  surpass 
each  other  in  the  acquittal  of  their  duty.  To  majors 
Ball,  Todd,  Sod  wick,  and  Ritzer,  and  major  Johnson  of 
the  Kentucky  militia,  the  c(Hnmander  in  chief  gave  a 
public  expression  of  his  warmest  a(^>robation.  Of  cap- 
tain Wood,  of  tlie  engineers,  who  has  since  that  time  so 
nobly  distinguished  himself  in  a  sortie  from  another  ear- 
rison,  the  general  said,  that  in  assigning  to  him  the  first 
palm  of  merit,  as  far  as  it  related  to  the  transactions  with- 


*.' 


116 


HISTOHICAL  SKETCHES 


in  the  works,  he  was  convinced  that  his  decision  would 
be  awarded  by  everjr  individual  in  camp,  who  witnessed 
his  inde&tiffable  exertion;  his  consummate  skill  in  pro- 
viding for  me  safety  of  every  point,  and  in  foiling  every 
attempt  of  the  enemy;  and  his  undaunted  bravery  in  the 
performance  of  his  ctuty,  in  the  most  exposed  situations. 
In  speakins  of  the  Kentuckians,  he  said,  that  it  rarely 
happened  that  a  general  had  to  complain  of  the  excessive 
araour  of  his  men,  yet  that  such  always  appeared  to  be 
the  case  whenever  the  Kentucky  militia  were  engaged, 
and  that  they  appeared  to  think  that  valour  alone  could 
accomplish  any  thing.  The  general  was  led  to  niake 
this  remark,  from  the  conduct  of  captain  Dudley's'  com- 
pany, of  (Hie  of  the  militia  regiments,  as  he  understood 
that  gallant  officer  was  obliged  to  turn  his  espontoon 
against  his  own  company,  to  oblige  them  to  desist  from  a 
further  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  This  declaration  referred 
to  the  conduct  of  this  company  in  the  sortie. 

On  the  6th  or  Tth  AtLj  of  the  siege,  general  Harrison 
*  received  from  general  Proctor  a  summons  to  surrender^ 
which  was  delivered  in  the  usual  form,  by  major  Cham- 
bers, who  informed  the  general  that  the  British  comman- 
der was  desirous  (^  saving  the  eflftision  of  blood.  General 
Harrison  expressed  are&t  astonishment  at  this  demand. 
As  general  Proctor  aid  not  send  it  on  hb  arrival,  he  sup- 
posed the  British  officers  believed  he  was  determined  to 
oo  his  duty.  Major  Chambers,  in  vain  attempted  to  per- 
suade him  of  the  high  resjpect  which  ^neral  Proctor  en- 
tertained of  him  as  a  soldier,  and  intimated  to  him  that 
,  there  was  then  a  larger  body  of  Indians  assembled j  than 
had  ever  been  known  to  have  been  at  opo  time  orguiizedt 
General  Hurison  dismissed  him  with  rtsburances  that  he 
had  a  very  correct  idea  of  general  Pro<'  tor's  force,  that  it 
was  not  such  as  to  create  me  least  apprehension  for  the 
result  of  the  contest;  that  general  Proctor  should  never 
have  the  post  surrendered  to  him  upon  any  terms;  and, 
that  if  H  should,  fall  into  his  hands,  it  should  be  in  a 
maimer  calculated  to  do  him  more  honour,  and  to  give 
him  laiger  claims  upon  the  gratitude  of  his  sovernmenty 
•than  he  could  possibly  derive  from  any  capitulation. 


^'■ 


OF  THE  LATB  WAR. 


1X7 


ision  would 

0  witnessed 
kill  in  pro- 
liling  every 
ivery  in  the 

1  situations. 
it  it  rarely 
le  excessive 
eared  to  be 
re  engaged, 
done  could 
d  to  make 
[lley's*  corn- 
understood 

espontoon 
isist  from  a 
Dn  referred 

U  Harrison 

surrender, 

ajor  Cham- 

kh  comman- 

d.  General 

IS  demand. 

ral,  he  sup- 

ermined  to 

ted  to  per- 

*roctor  en- 

0  him  that 

}ledi  than 

organizedt 

is  that  he 

Be,  that  it 

in  for  the 

uld  never 

*ms;  and, 

be  in  a 

d  to  give 

ernment,. 

on. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Preparation  for  the  campaign  of  1813,  by  the  northern 
army  and  the  army  of  the  centre — Ejepedition  against 
Elixabethtown,  Canada — Capture  of  (M^sbw'g  by 
the  British — Batteries  at  Black  Bock — Concentration 
of  forces  at  Sackefs  Harbonr-r-Description  of  the 
town  and  harbour  of  Little  Fork,  capital  of  Upper 
Canador—Emharkatim  of  general  Dearborn*»  armu 
at  Sackefs  Harbour^^rrives  at  the  mouth  of  York 
Harbour-^BrUish  force  under  general  Sheaffe-^Land* 
^"ng  o^  the  •American  advance — Fi^ht  in  the  woods-^ 
Landing  of  the  main  force — British  retreat  to  their 
garrison^-^Their  works  outside  taken^-^They  abandon 
their  fort-^Explosion  of  the  magaxinsf^Death  of  ge- 
neral Fike — The  Jimericahs  enter  ^  garrison — 6ene- 
ral  Sheaffe  toUhdraws  his  forces  from  Hie  town,  and 
retreats  across  the  Ikm-^His  rear  guard  annoyed  by 
lieutenant  Biddle-^Capitulation  of  the  militia,  am 
capture  of  Fork-'-^mericans  leave  Fork  and  proceed  to 
J)nagara—'The  fleet  sails  to  8ackefs  Harbour  for  re- 
inforcements— Jin  expedition  to  the  head  of  lake  Onta- 
rio — The  fleet  retums-^Its  disposition  before  J^ewark 
"Attack  upon,  and  capture  of.  Fort  Oeorge-^^The 
fleet  on  Lake  Erie — Capture  of  Fort  Erie-^Defeat  of 

fenerals  Chandler  ana  Winder — •Attack  on  Backet's 
Tarbour  by  sir  George  Prevost^^His  repulse, 

Arrakoem£nts  having  been  entered  into  between 
the  American  and  British  commissaries  to  that  effect,  a 
mutual  exchai^  of  prisoners  took  place,  which  restored 
to  the  army  oi  the  United  States,  all  the  distinguished 
officers,  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  during 
Urn  campaign  of  1812.  Vigorous  preparations  had  in  tiie 
meantime  been  making  by  the  ^ortnem  army  and  the 


118 


HISTORICAI.  SKETCHES 


I  I 


army  of  the  centre,  for  opening  the  campaign  of  1813. 
Reinforcements  of  regulars  from  most  of  the  recruitine 
districts,  and  the  necessary  supplies  of  provisions  and 
military  equipments,  had  been  forwarded  with  tiie  utmost 
celerity,  and  every  thing  seemed  to  promise  a  successful 
issue  to  the  contemplated  operations. 

Captain  Forsythe  and  his  detachment,  consisting  now 
of  about  185  men,  were  still  stationed  at  Osdensbui^, 
where  he  was  in  command.  Deserters,  from  me  Canada 
side  of  the  St  Lawrence,  were  continuallj  surrendering 
themselves  to  him,  at  this  post,  until  their  numbers  be- 
came at  length,  so  extensive,  that  the  vigilance  of  the 
enemy  was  strongly  excited.  British  guards  were  re- 
peatedly sent  over  to  the  American  shore  in  search  of 

.  them,  and  though  they  succeeded  in  taking  about  16,  they 
committed  so  many  aggressions  upon  the  persons  and 
property  of  the  citizens,  that  captain  Forsythe  deter- 
mined on  attacking  them  in  the  village  of  Elizabethtown, 

^  and  releasing  the  deserters  whom  they  had  thus  taken 
and  imprisoned  at  that  place.  On  the  6th  of  February, 
(1813,)  he  therefore  drafted  a  part  of  his  own  company, 
and  accepted  the  services  of  a  sufficient  number  of  volun- 

-  teers,  to  increase  his.  command  to  200  men.  With  these, 
accompanied  by  colonel  Benedict  and  several  private  gen- 
tlemen, he  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Morristown,  where 
he  formed  his  men,  and  at  S  o'clock  on  the  niorning  of 
the  7th,  he  crossed  over  to  Elizabethtown,  surprised  the 
guard,  took  52  prisoners,  among  whom  were  1  major,  3 
captains,  and  2  lieutenants,  and  captured  120  muskets, 
20  rifles,  2  casks  of  fixed  ammunition,  and  some  other 
public  property,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  He 
then  released  the  deserters  from  iail,  recrossed  the  river, 
and  retuiiied  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  negotiated  with 
two  British  officers,  sent  over  for  that  purpose,  for  the 
parole  of  the  prisoners. 

Soon  after  this,  the  movements  of  the  enemy  at  Pres- 
cott  were  indicative  of  an  intention  to  attack  (^ensburs. 
Colonel  Benedict  was  therefore  induced  to  call  out  his 
regiment  of  milftia,  and  arrangements  were  immediately 
made  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  On  the  21s(:  of  Fe- 
bruary the  enemy  appeared  before  it,  with  a  force  of 
1200  men,  and  succeeded  in  driving  out  captain  Forsythe 


-.TV- 


ft  of  1813, 
recruiting 
isions  ana 
the  utmost 
successful 

sting  now 

vdensbui^, 

he  Canada 

rrendering 

imbers  be- 

[ice  of  the 

\  were  re- 

1  search  of 

ut  16,  they 

trsons  and 

the  deter- 

abethtown, 

thus  taken 

February, 

company, 

r  of  volun- 

i'^'ith  these, 

ivate  ffen- 

m,  where 

iorning  of 

rised  the 

major,  3 

muskets, 

me  other 

an.    He 

e  river, 

ted  with 

for  the 

I  at  Pres- 

lensbur^. 

out  his 

ediately 

of  Fe- 

brcc  of 

orsythe 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


119 


and  his  troops.  The  British  attacked  in  two  columns, 
of  six  hundred  men  each,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  mom- 
in?,  and  were  commanded  by  captain  M'Donnel  of  the 
Glengary  li^t  infantry,  and  colonel  Fraser  of  the  Cana- 
dian militia.  The  American  riflemen  and  militia  received 
them  with  firmness,  and  contended  for  the  ground  up- 
waitls  of  an  hour;  when  the  superiority  of  numbers  com- 
pelled them  to  abandon  it,  and  to  retreat  to  Black  Lake, 
nearly  nine  miles  from  Osdensbui^  after  losing  twenty 
men  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  from 
the  deliberate  coolness  with  which  the  riflemen  fired,  was 
reputed  to  have  been  thrice  that  number.  The  British 
account,  which  claimed  the  capture  of  immense  stores, 
none  of  which  had  ever  been  deposited  there,  admitted 
the  loss  of  five  distinguished  officers.  In  consequence  of 
this  aflair,  a  messa^  was  sent  by  the  commandant  of  fort 
George,  to  colonel  M'Feely,  the  commandant  of  fort  Nia- 

§ara,  informing  him  that  a  salute  would  be  fired  the  next 
lay  in  honour  of  the  capture  of  the  Am«;.ican  village.  Co- 
lonel M'Feely  having  received  intelligence  in  the  course 
of  the  same  evening  of  the  capture  of  nis  majesty's  frigate 
the  Juv&^  returned  the  message  to  the  British  comman- 
dant, by  communicating  to  him  his  intention,  of  firing  a 
salute  at  the  same  hour  from  fort  Niagara,  in  celebration 
of  that  brilliant  event. 

On  the  26th  March,  the  batteries  on  Black  Rock  were 
opened  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  fire  continued  with  little 
intermission  until  night  The  sailors'  battery  completely 
silenced  the  lower  battery  of  the  enemy,  but  what  aamage 
was  done  to  his  troops  has  not  been  ascertained.  One  man 
w  ,^  killed,  and  several  hurt  by  accidents  at  the  Rock. 

Reinforcements  were  now  every  day  arriving,  and  the 
concentration  of  a  larffc  force  at  Sacket's  Haroour,  was 
effected  about  the  middle  of  April  (1813).  Many  of  the 
troops  from  Champlain,  and  the  shores  of  the  St  Law- 
rence, amons  whom  was  captain  Forsythe's  command,  were 
ordered  to  that  point;  and  it  \vas  confidently  expected  that 
the  carnpaign  would  be  comm  snced  by  the  invasion  of  Ca- 
nada, in  oroefore  the  following  month  of  May.  Orders 
had  been  given  to  commodore  Chauncey,  by  the  navy 
de>artment,  to  receive  on  board  the  fci4.iadron,  the  com- 
mai^ing  general  Dearborn,  and  any  force  which  he  might 
destine  to  proceed  against  the  posts  on  the  British  Niagara 


ill 


I  f 


I 


m 


m 


l! 


120 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


frontier.  A  plan  had  been  conceived  and  organized  by 
seneral  Dearborn,  by  which,  in  co-operation  with  the  fleet, 
ne  was  to  storm  and  to  carry  the  works  at  Little  York,  the 
capital  of  Upper  Canada,  and  to  proceed  thence  to  the  as- 
sault of  fort  George,  the  ^eat  bulwark  of  that  country. 

The  capital  of  Upper  Canada  was  formerly  known  by 
the  name  of  Toronto,  and  is  situated  at  the  bottom  of  a 
harbour  of  the  same  name,  which  is  formed  by  a  long  and 
narrow  peninsula,  called  Gibraltar  Point,  on  the  extremity 
of  which  stores  and  block-houses  are  constructed.  The 
^rrison  stands  on  a  bank  of  the  main  land,  opposite  to 
tiie  point.  To  the  westward  of  the  garrison  formerly  stood 
'  the  old  French  fort  Toronto,  of  ^-mich  scarcely  any  ves- 
tiges remain,  and  adjoining  this  situatiim  is  a  deep  bay, 
which  receives  the  nver  Humber,  The  town  of  York  lo 
projected  to  extend  to  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  from  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour  along  its  banks.  But  many  years 
must  elapse  before  the  plan  is  completed.  Its  advance  to 
its  present  condition,  has  been  effected  in  the  course  of 
fifteen.  The  government  house,  and  the  houses  for  the 
distinct  branches  of  the  legislature,  are  f<aid  to  be  hand- 
some, and  the  view  from  the  latter  li^ly  diversified. 

Agreeably  to  a  previous  arrangement  with  the  commo- 
dore, general  Dearborn  and  his  suite,  with  a  force  of  se- 
venteen hundred  men,  embarked  on  the  22d  and  23d  of 
April,  but  the  prevalence  of  a  violent  storm  prevented  the 
sailine  of  the  squadron  until  the  25th.  On  that  day  it 
moved  into  lake  Ontario,  and  having  a  favourable  wind, 
arrived  safely  at  7  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th, 
about  one  mile  to  the  westward  of  the  ruins  of  fort  Toron- 
to, and  two  and  an  half  from  the  town  of  York.  The  exe*- 
cution  of  that  part  of  the  plan  which  applied  immediately 
to  the  attack  upon  York,  was  confided  to  colonel  Pike,  of 
the  15th  regiment,  who  had  then  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  a  migadier  general,  and  the  position  which  had 
been  fixed  upon  for  landing  the  troops,  wps  the  scite 
of  the  old  fort.  The  approach  of  the  fleet  being  dis- 
covered from  the  enemy's  garrison,  general  Sheaflte,  the 
British  commandant,  hastily  collected  his  whole  force, 
consisting  of  upwards  of  750  regulars  and  militia  and  100 
Indians,  and  disposed  them  in  the  best  manner  to  resist 
the  landing  of  the  American  force.  A  body  of  Brit'sh jire^ 
nadiers  were  paraded  on  the  shore,  and  the  Gl 'angary  Fen- 


OF  TH£  LATE  W 


ISl 


y^-:  .•  A      *. 


inized  by 
the  fleet, 
York,  the 
i  to  the  as- 
ountry. 
known  by 
ttoih  of  a 
L  long  and 
extremity 
teu.    Tlie 
pposite  to 
lerly  stood 
y  any  ves- 
deep  bay, 
tf  York  h 
h,  from  the 
lany  years 
advance  to 
1  course  of 
les  for  the 
:o  be  hand- 
rsified. 
le  commo- 
)rce  of  se- 
ind  23d  of 
jrented  the 
lat  day  it 
ible  wind, 
the  Snh, 
irt  Toron- 
The  exe- 
Imediately 
'"1  Pike,  of 
id  to  the 
hich  had 
the  scite 
eino;  dis- 
ane,  the 
lie  force, 
and  100 
to  resist 
^t'shgre^- 
y  Fen- 


cibles,  a  corps  which  had  been  disciplined  with  uncom- 
mon nai](i!>  since  the  commencement  mf  the  war,  were  sta- 
tioned at  another  point  Bodies  of  IndUos  were<ubserv«d 
in  groups*  in  diflferent  directions,  in  aijtda^i^^^  .woods 
below'  the  scite  of  the  fort,  and  numbers  of  horsemen  sl»)- 
tioned'  in'  the  clear  ground  suirouBdifng  it .  These  were 
seen  moving  into  the  tol/m,  where  strong  i(^d  woriu  had 
been  thrown  up  to  oppose  the  assp^nts.  The  Indians 
were  taking  post  at  statics,  whidk  were  pointed  oat  to^ 
them  by  the  British  offiipers  wi^  ff^eiit  skills  &om  which 
they  conld  annoy  tile  Americans  aithepeintatii^uHQhthe 
water  and  the  weather  would  compel  them  to  I^nd.  Thus 
posted,  they  were  to  act  as  twa^kuvs,  The  rogulars  were 
discovered  to  be  moving  mt^xi  their  works  in  op^  eo» 
iPiHns  of  platoons,  and  mitrching  akmg  the  banl^in^t 
O'    '   Into  the  woods. 

Ml  8  eMock  the  d^biiriuition  commeiiced;  at  ten  it  was 
comn|eted.  M^or  Forstthe  and  his  riflemen,  in  several 
large  bvUmuXi  were  in  tne  advance.  They  puUed  ^  igor- 
ously  for  the  designated  ground  at  the  scite,  Jbi|t  were 
forced  by  a  stroiq;  easterly  wind  a  considerate  ^stanfie 
above.  Thi^  enemy  being  within  a  fe^  feet  of  the  w.^ter« 
and  compietely  masked  by  the  thickness  of  fi,  copse*  cosi- 
menced  a  galling  fire  of  musketry  and  rifle.  .  To  have 
fallen  ^rther  fronn  the  dear  ground  at  whiph  he  was  first 
ordered  to  land,  w<mld  have  snl^>3cted  not  only^his  own 
corps  but  th«  whole  body  of  the  troops  to  gr^at  '''wdvan- 
ta^s  I  and  ^  ?  li^^nding  at  a  greater  disti^ice.from  llie  towii» 
the  object  t  t'^f  ftxf^ition  mi^  be  frustrated.  lla|#r 
Forsythe.  •  'yvic'^,.deternuned  upcm  making  that  part 
of  tlie  shoiti, «.  -7i)jch  the  enemy's  principal  stirength  wi^s 
stationed,  and  tb.^./ed  his  men  to  rest  a  mcmient  otk  their 
oars,  until  his  riflemen  should  return  the  shpt  6eQeral 
Pike  was  at  this  mom'^^t  hastening  Ui^  debarka^ifm  of  ^ 
infantry,  when,  as  he  wa?  standing  on  the  ship's  deck«  H$ 
observed  the  pause  of  the  boats  in  advance,  aiw  fwringiiMj^ 
into  that  which  had  been  reserved  for  himself  and  nis  ifaC 
he  called  to  them  to  jump  into  the  boat  with  htm,  ordMed 
major  K:.  of  the  15th  (the  same  who  had  di^inguished 
himself  *j  ~  Arryirg;  the  enemy's  butteries  opposite  Black 
Rock«)  to  £*i>ilow  hun  instantly  #iui  three  compaiue^^  pf 
that  reffiment,  and  pushed  for  the  Canadian  shore.  ISeibre 
he  reached  it,  Forsythe,  had  landed,  M^m»  9^991^7 M- 


w 


lU 


HnpOSlCA£  SKETCHES 


saged  with  the  principal  paH  irf*  the  British  and  Indian 
force,  under  the  inlinediate  command  of  seneral  ^heaffe. 
He  contended  with  them  nearly  half  an  liour.  The  in- 
fantry ^der  major  King,  the  l^t  artillery  under  major 
Eustkr,  the  volunteer  corps  commanded  by  Col.  M^Glure, 
and  abcwnt  SO  men  who  had  been  selected  from  the  15th 
ajt  Platti^rg^  trained  to  the  rifie,  and  designed  to  act  as 
H  small  corps  of  bbseryation,  under  lieutenant  Riddle, 

9i^eh  hinded  in  rapid  succession,  and  formed  in  platoons. 
Oeneral  I%e  took  temmand  of  the  first,  and  ordering  the 
#hole  body  to  prepare  for  a  chat^,  led  them  on  to  the 
summit  6f  the  mnk*  from  which  the  British  grenadiers 
Dt^ereponring  down  a  volUsy  of  musketry  and  rifle  shot. 
The  advance  <^  t  ^  ^n>erican  infantry  was  not  to  be 
withstood,  and  the  g  iers  yielded  meir  position  and 
retired  in  disorder,  i  j  signal  of  vict(»*y  was  at  the 
same  intftent  heard  fbom  Forsytbe*d  busies,  and  the  sound 
had  no  sooner  penetrated  the  eiars  or  tiie  Indians,  than 

J  they  pEV^  a  customary  yell,  and  fled  in  every  direc^n. 
Hie  Glengary  corps  then  skirmished  With  Forsythe's, 
whilst  a  fresh  body  of  ^eni^dieris',  supposed  to  have  been 
the  8th  er  King's  reeiment,  made  a  formidable  cliarge 
upm^  "the  American  (^umn,  and  paHially  coDipelled  it  to 
retire.  But  Ihe  officers  instantly  Falliea  the  troops,  who 
returned  to  the  ground,  and  impetuously  thai^gea  upon, 
and,  routed  the  grenadiers.  A  reinibt'cement  m  ^e  re- 
mainder «f  the  15th  then  arrived,  with  captaiivSteel^s  pla- 
toon, aiid  the  standards  of  the  regiment,  and  the  Ameri- 
cans remained  undisputed  masters  of  the  ground. 

.A  fresh  front,  however,  was  presented  by  the  British 
ftt  a  dmtance,  which  gave  way  and  retired  to  the  g^rri- 
s<m  as  soon  as  the  American^  troops  were  aeain  formed, 
by  mi^er  King,  for  the  charee.  The  whole  Inidy  of  tiie 
troops  being  now  landed,  orders  were  ^ven  by  general 
Pike  to  form  in  platoons,  and  to  march  m  that  ottler  to 
the  enemy's  works.  The  first  line  was  composed  of  For* 
sythe*^  riflemen,  with  front  and  flank  guards;  the  regi- 
ments of  the  first  brigade,  with  their  4)ieces;  and  three 
platoons  of  reserve,  under  the  orders  of  malw  Swan ; 
Miljar  Buirtts  and  his  train  of  artillery  were  formed  in  ^ 
year  "df  ^is  reserve,  to  act  where  circumstances  might  re- 
i^uitt*  The  second  line  was  composed  of  the  Slst  regi- 
H^t,  in  «ix  pifttoonsi  flanked  by  colonel  M 'Clure'ft  vo- 


OF  THB  LATE  W 


% 


M 


123 


luateers,  divided  equally  as  light  troops,  and  all  ui^deT' 
command  of*  colonel  Ripfey.  Thus  f(wrmed,  lui  iniunctiffli 
was-^ven  t&  each  fficer,  to  suffer  no  man  to  Wad ;  wlieiiiL> 
within  a  short  dite^ance  of  the  enemy,  an  entire  reliance 
would  be  placed  upon  the  bayonet;  and  the  column> 
moved  on  with  as  much  velocity  as  the  streams  and  rair 
vines,  which  intersected  the  road  along  the  lake,  woiuil 
permit  One  field  piece,  and  a  howitz^,  \i^ere  with  diff^ 
culty  passed  over  one  of  these,  the  bridges  of  which  hai4^ 
been  destrojred,  imd  placed  at  the  head  of  the  columii^ 
in  chai^  of  lieutenant  Fanning  of  the  3d  artillerjr.  As. 
the  column  immeraed  from  the  woods,  and  came  iinm(Bi- 
diately  in  front  of  me  enemy's  first  battery,  twa  or  tfar«e 
24  pounders  were  opened  upon  it,  but  without  any  kind, 
of  eftect  The  column  movea  on,  and  tiie  enemy  rtitreati^ 
to  his  second  battery.  The  guns  of  the  first,  w«re  ijnme* 
diately  taken,  and  lieutenant  lUddle,  having  at  this  mn- 
ment  come  up  with  his  corps,  to  deliver  the.  prisoners 
which  he  had  made  in  the  woods,  was  orderea  to  pror 
ceed  to  take  possession  of  the  secMid  battery,  idiout  '^^ 
yuds  ahead,  me  guns  of  which,  lieutenant  Fraser,  ^!^e- 
camp  to  the  general,  rep<Nrted  to  have  been  spiked  by  the 
enemy,  whom  he  discovered  retreatii^  to  the  ganisQiu 
General  Pike  then  led  the  column  up  to  the  second  bat- 
tery, when  he  halted  to  receive  the  ci^titred  amB\ani1^, 
and  to  learn  the  strenMh  of  the  ^amson.  But  as  ev^ 
appearance  indicated  me  evacuation  of  the  b^rraclui,  he 
suspected  the  enemy  of  an  intention  to  duw  him  within 
ranee  pf  the  shot,  and  then  suddenly  to  show  himself  ii 
great  force.  Lieutenant  Hiddle  was  sent  forward  with 
his  corps  of  obsmration,  to  discover  if  ^ere  wereuiy,  and 
what  number  ofVoops,  withon  the  garrison.  The  barracks 
were  three  hundred  yards  distant  fnmi  the  second  batte- 
ry, and  whilst  this  corps  was  engaged  in  reconnmtring, 
fenenil  Pike,  after  removing  a  wounded  prisoner  from  a 
angerous  situation,  had  seated  himself  upon  a  stump,  ^nd 
commenced  an  examinition  of  a  British  sergea^  who 
had  been  taken  in  the  woods.  Riddle;,  having  discovered 
that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  the  garrison,  was  about  to 
return  with  tnis  information,  when  the  magazine,  which 
was  situated- outsid*  the  barrack  yard,  blew  u^,  with  a 
tremendous  and  awful  explosion^  passed  over  Riddle  and 
his  party,  without  injuring  one  of  his  men,  and  killed  and 


T 


124 


HltfromCAL  SKETCHES 


"^  I 


IS* ' 


wounded  general  Pike,  and  260  of  the  column.  The  se- 
veiitjrofgeiienU  lake's  wounds.  disaUed  him  ^romfiiiiher 
servfce,  and  the.  command  <^  the  troops  deyolved  upon 
colonel  Pearoe  of  the  16th  r^menl^  who  sent  a  demand 
to  the  town  of  York  for  an  unmediate  surrender.  Hie 
pkn  of  ^  ccmtemplated  operations  was  known  only  to 
general  Pike,  and,  as  general  Dearborn  had  not  yet  land- 
ed, the  future  movetoients  of  the  troops  would  depend 
'ItHKiA  the  will  oi  their  new  commanaer.  .He  ordered 
Inkn  immediately  to  form  tiie  column,  and  to  march  forr 
ward  «id  occupy  die  barracks,  #hich  major  Forsythe,who 
had  been  scouring  the  adjoining  wood,  had  already  en- 
t^red.  Meanwhile,  the  British  re^lars  were  retreating 
across  the  Don,  and  destroying  the  brides  in  their  reu*. 
After  ^e  explosion,  lieutenant  Biddle  witii  his  party,  then 
reinforced  by  30  regulars,  under  lieutens^nt  Iiorrell,of  the 
l6th,  pursued  the  aiemy*8  route,  and  annoyed  his  retreat- 
\ng  guard  from  the  wood;  This  was  the  only  pursuit 
}  which  waamade.^ 

Had  a  more  vigorous  jpush  followed  the  abandonment 
of  the  enemy's  garrison,  his  whole  regular  force  must 
have  beMi  captured,  and  the  accession  of  military  stores 
would  have  been  extensively  ^reat.  The  majority  of  die 
offic^  were  well  aware  of  this,  and  as  it  was  known  that 
the  stores  were  deposited  at  York,  they  uiged  the  neces^ 
sity  of  the  immediate  ap*|;roach  of  the  whole  cdumn,  to 
prevent  their  temoval.  Colonel  Pearce  Ihen  marched 
towards  the  town,  which  was  distant  three  qtta|*ter&  of  a 
mile.  About  half  way  between  York  and  the  garrison, 
the  column  was  intercepted  by  several  officers  of  the 
Canadian  militia,  who  had  come  out  with  terms  of  ca- 
pitulation. Whilst  these  were  discussing,  the  enemy 
was  engaged  in  destroying  the  military  store  house,  and  a 
laige  vesselof  war,  then  on  the  stocks,  and  which  in  three 
days  might  have  been  launched,  and  added  to  the  Ameri- 
can squaidron  on  Ontario.  Forsjthe,  who  was  on  the  left 
in  advance,  being  aware  of  this,  despatched  lieutenant 
Riddle  to  in"^  -m  colonel  Pearce.  Colonel  Pearce  enjoined 
the  observance  ^  general  Pike's  orders,  that  the  property 
of  the  inhabitaiits  of  York  should  be  held  sacred,  ana  that 
any  sold^  who  should  so  far  neelect  the  honour  of  his 
profession,  as  to  be  ffuiltv  of  plundering,  should,  on  con- 
viction, be  punished  witn  deatli.    At  4  o'clock  in  the  af- 


.  These- 
om  further 
>lved  upon 
a  demand 
tder.  The 
jm  only  to 
t  yet  land- 
Id  depend 
[e  ordered 
march  for- 
sythejWho 
ilready  en- 
retreating 
their  rear, 
party,  then 
Tell,  of  the 
lis  retreat- 
iy  pursuit 

indonment 

brce  must 

tary  stores 

'tj  of  tiie 

own  that 

le  neces- 

f<dumn,  to 

marched 

srs  of  a 


OF  THE  £ATE  W  JR. 


125 


opei 
idtl 


temoon,  the  Americana  we^  ip  poasession  of  the  town, 
and  terms  of  capitulation  were  i|g[reed  upon,  by  whkh 
notwithstanding  we  severe  loss  which  the  army  aad  the 
nation  had  sustained  by  the  death  of  the  general;  the  un- 
warrantable manner  in  which  that  loss  waa  odcaaiooed ; 
and  the  subtlety  with  which. the  militia  colonels  oflbred'  to 
capitulate  at  a  distance  from  the  town,  so  thattl^»  coiiAvkn 
mikht  be  detained  until  general  Sheaffe  should^  escape^ 
and  the  destruction  of  the  public  properly  be  completed* 
although  one  of  its  articles  stipulated  for  its  dtliyery  iiito 
the  hands  of  the  Americans;  the  militia  and  inhabita^ta 
were  freed  from  all  hardship,  and  not  only  their  pemons 
and  prc^rty,  bttlK  their  legislatiye  haU  and  other  jpublle 
buildings  were  protected.  The  terms  of  the  capituu^tioii 
were,  **  that  the  troops,  regulars  and  militia,  and  the  navU 
"  officers  and  seamen  should  be  surrendered  prisoners  «f 
"  war.  That  all  public  stores,  navtd  and  mUiuii%,  shtndd 
**  be  immediately  given  up  to  the  commanding  omcers  of 
"  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  that  all 
*'  private  property  should  be  guaranteed  to  ^citizena  cf 
"  the  town  of  York.  That  ^1  papers  belonging  tp  the 
"  civil  officers  should  be  retained  by  them,  attd  mat  such 
"  aurseons  asrmi^t  be  procured  to  attend  the  wounded 
'*  of  me  British  re^lars  and  Canadian  militia,  should  not 
"be  considered  prisoners  of  war."  Under  this  capitula- 
tion, 1  lieutenant  colonel,  1  majoi*,  13  captains,  9  lieutet 
nants,  11  ensigns,  1  deputy  adjutant  ^neral,  and  4  naval 
officers,  and  S50  non-commissioned  cmcers  and  privates, 
were  surrendered.  The  American  infantry  were  then  or- 
dered to  return  and  quorler  in  the  barracks,  while  ^ 
riflemen  were  stationed  in  the  town. 

When  general  Pike's  wound  was  discovered  to  tm  mor- 
tal, he  was  removed  from  the  field,  and  carried  to  the 
shipiung,  with  his  wound,ed  aids.  As  they  conveyed  him 
to  die  water's  edffe*  a  sudden  exclamation  was  hem  from 
the  troops,  which  Informed  him  of  the  American  havi^| 
supphmted  the  British  standard  in  the  oarrison.  I^  ext 
pressed  his  satis&ction  by  a  feeble  sign,  and  after  bein|^ 
transferfed  from  the  Pert  schooner  to  ^  commodore's 
ship,  he  made  a  si^  for  the  British  fla§^  which  had  then 
been  brought  to  him,  to  be  placed  u^r  his  head,  And 
eicpired  wuhout  a  groan.  Thus  perished,  in  the  anna  if 
victmy,  by  the  ungenerous  stratagem  of  a  vanquished 

1,2 


ne 


niSVOBICAI.  SftSf  CHE^ 


f6e,  a  soldier  of  tri^  valour,  and  invincible  coura^;  a 
general  of  illustrious  virtues  and  distinguish^  talents. 

When  the  British  general  saw  the  American  column 
advancing  from  the  woods^  he  hastily  drew  up  the  articles 
of  capitulation,  and  directed  them^to  be  delivered  to  a 
colonel  of  i^e  York  militia.    This  colonel  was  l^is^cted 
to  negotiate  the  terms  after  the  regulars  should  have 
retreated.     denerU,!  SheaflTe,  therefore,  considered  tfie 
earrison  to  be  ao  much  surrendered,  as  if  th^  articles  had 
been  actually  agreed  upon  and  signed.    Yet  he  treache- 
rously ordered  a  train  to  be  laid,  wldch  was  so  calculated 
that  the  explosion  of  the  magazine  should  be  caused,  at 
the  time  when  the  Americans  would  wrive  at  the  bar- 
racks.   Had  not  general  Pike  halted  the  troops  at  the 
enem;^8  second  battery,  the  British  plan  would  have  at- 
tained its  consummation,  and  Ihe  destruction  of  tiie  whole 
column  would  have  been  the  natural  consequence.    The 
^  train  had  been  sldlfiilly  laid,  and  the  combustibles  ar- 
ranged in  a  manner  to  produce  the  most  dreadfiil  effect 
500  barrels  of  powder,  several  cart  loads  of  stone,  and 
ah  immense  quantity  of  iron,  shells,  and  shot,,  were  con- 
tained in  ^e  magazine.    The  Calamity  winch  followed 
the  «tplosion,  caused  no  discomfiture  among  the  troops. 
A  number  of  their  officers,  of  high  rank,  ajtid  of  equal 
worth,  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  they  became 
aictuated  by  a  desire  to  revenge  their  fall.    **Pmkwit 
w^  brave  jellowSt  and  avenge  ytmr  gemgral^  were  .^e 
lii^t  wotxls  of  their  expiring  commander.    They  instantly 
^ve  three  cheers,  formed  the  column,,  and  marched  on 
rabidly.    Had  they  been  led  directly  to  York,  the  issue  of 
the  expedition  would  have  been  fruitful  with  advanta^s. 
As  if  was,  however,  the  enemas  means  were  crippled/his 
resources  cut  off^  and  the  military  stores  of  m^  captors 
extensively  mult^lied.    Most  of  the  guns,  munitions  of 
war,  and  provisimis,  necessarj  to  carry  on  the  campaign 
5y  ^e  enemy^  had  been  dep<^ited  at  York^  and  notwiSi- 
staH<Ung  &e  firing  of  the  priuv^ii^al  store  house,  an  im- 
mei»e  quantity  fell  into  uie  hands  of  the  Americans-. 
The  bamee  and  private  papers  of  general  Shetffe  were 
left  at  roKK,  in  the  precipitation  of  m&  flight,  and  proved 
to  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  American  commander. 
Iliese,  and  the  pubuc  stores  were  the  only  articles  of  cap- 
ture*   The  conduct  of  the  troops  needed  no  restndnt. 


OV  THE  LATE  WAR. 


H7 


mgc;  a 
ents. 
colttinn 
articles 
red  to  a 
s^cted 
td  hate 
red  tfie 
cles  had 
treache- 
kulated 
used,  at 
the  bar- 
i  at  the 
have  at- 
tie  whole 
e.    The 
ibles  ar- 
iil  effect 
me,  and 
ere  con- 
followed 
B  troops, 
of  equal 
became 
Ftishtm, 
rere  the 
Dstantlj 
ched  on 
issae  of 
anta^s. 
iledyiiis 
captors 
tions  of 
unpaign 
lotwiui- 
an  im- 
ericans; 
fe  were 
proved 
nander. 
ofcap- 
sstndnt. 


Though  their  indignation  was  highlv  excited,'  by  ihe  cir- 
cumstance of  a  sodp  having  been  ^und  suspended  near 
the  speaker's  chair,  in  the  le^slative  chamber,  neither  th^ 
ornaments  of  the  chamber,  the  building  itself,  nor  the 

5 ublic  library,  were  molested.  A  larxe  quantity  of  flour, 
eposit^  in  the  public  stores,  was  di^ributed  among  the 
inhabitants^  on  condition  that  it  should  be  used  for  their 
own  consumption;  and  those  whose  circumstances  were 
impoverishea,  were  supplied  with  many  oth^^  articles  of 
the  captured  provisions.  The  balance  was  taken  on  bo|iid 
the  ^et,  with  the  naval  stores,  or  destroyed  upon  the 
shore*'^:^ :'.),:     '  - 

Immediately  after  the  fall  of  general  P?ke,  the  com-, 
mknder  in  chief  landed  with  his  staff,  but  he  aid  not  reach 
the  troops  undl  they  ha4  entered  York.  He  ihere  made 
arrangentents  to  €xp^ite  their  departure  for  the  other 
objecto  of  the  expedition,  and  they  were  soon  after  re- 
embarked. 

l%e  co-operation  of  the  squadron  was  of  the  greatest 
importance  in  the  attack  upon: the  enemy's  garrison.  As 
3oon  as  i&e  debiarkatiob  was  completed,  commodore 
Chauncey  directed  the  schooners  to  take  a  position  near 
th^  forts,  in  order  ^t  the  attack  of  the  army  and  naw, 
mig^t,  if  possible,  be  simultaneous.  The  larger  vessels 
could  not  be  brou^t  up,  and  in  cbnsequence  of  the  wind, 
the  schooners  were  obliged  to  beat  up  to  their  intended 
position.  This  they  did«  under  a  very  heavy^fire  iit>m  the 
enemy's  batteries,  and  having  taken  their  statipn  within 
six  hundred  jrards  of  the  principal  fort,  opened  i^  galling 
fire,  ai^d  contributed  very  much'to  its  destrttcti<m;  The 
loss  on  board  the  squadron,  was  3  killed  and  11  wounded. 
Amonff  the  killed  were  midshipmen  Thompson  and  liatr 
fiel<^  uie  latter  of  whom,  in  his  dying  moments,  had  no 
otiier  care  than  to  know  if  he  had  performed  his  duty  to 
his  country. 

In  the  action,  the  loss  of  the  American  army  was  tri)aing; 
but  in  consequcince  of  the  explosion,  it  was  much  greater 
than  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  14  were 
killed  and  32  wounded  in  battle,  and  38  were  killed  and 
Q9&  woiinded  by  the  exi^losion,  &t>  that  the  total  AniiPr 
can  loss  amounted  to  320  men.  Among  those  who  fell 
by  the  explosion,  besides  general  Pike^  were  7  captains^ 
7  subalterns,  1  aid  de  camp,  1  acting  aid,  and  1  voumteer 


:^^.r/ 


128 


BI8T0SICAX  SKETCHES 


B# 


ftid.  The  enemy^  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  atnount- 
ed  to  200— in  prisoners  550^— 4ifhr  of  whom  were  regu* 
lars— being  altogether  750  men.  His  wounded  were  left 
h|  the  houses  on  the  road  leadineto,  and  in  the  neighbour* 
hood  of  York,  and  were  attebded  to  by  the  American 
army  and  navy  surgeons.  The  prisoners^  were  all  paroled, 
and  the  troops  withdrawn  from  York  immediately  after 
its  capture. 

The  officers  of  the  l5th,  greatly  distinsuished  them- 
selves throughout  the  day.    The  death  of  their  gallant 
leader,  wbonad  personally  organized  that  regiment,  and 
had  already  successfully  led  detachments  of  it  to  the  ^eld, 
inspired  them  with  a  more  determined  spirit  to  revenue 
the  barbarous  act  of  a  defeated  enemy,  than  Could  be  tw 
by  any  other  corps.    Animated  by  this  desire,  they  anx* 
ioiisly  pressed  forwajtl,  and  had  they  been  permitted  to 
pursile  the  retreating  column  of  the  English,  under  the 
distinguished  officer  (major  King)  who  now  commanded 
them,  scneral  Sheaflfe  and  his  regulars  would  not  have 
effected  their  escape.    Seyend  {uatoon  officers  of  this, 
and  the  16th  redinient,  were  kiUed.    Captains  Nicholson 
and  Lyon  by  me  explosion-^-captain  Hoppock,  as  his 
company  were  landug.    Lieutenant  colonel.  Mitchell  of 
the  3d  n^iment  of  amllery,  acted  as  a  volunteer  on  the 
expedition,  and  by  lus  indefatigable  exertions,  at  every 
post  of  danger,  gitve  strong  presages  of  that  gallantry,  by 
whichrhe  has  since  identifiea  his  name  with  those  or  the 
bravest  officers  of  the  army.     Major  Eustis,   captains 
Scott,  Young,  Walworth,  and  Stephen  H.  Moore  of  the 
Bidtimore  volunteers,  who  lost  a  leg  by  the  explosion, 
and  lieutenants  M^la^sin,  Fanning,  and  Riddle,  were 
among  the  most  con^cuous  officers  of  the  day.    The 
latter Jiad  been  exfNressly  selected  by  general  Pike,  from 
his  own  rej^ment,  to  command  the  corps  of  observation, 
and  was  always  Appointed  to  the  most  hazArdous  enter-^ 
prises. 

Lieutenant  Bloomfield  of  the  15th,  and  nephew  to  bri- 
gadier general  Bloomfield,  waa  also  killed.  The  army 
sustained  another  loss  in  the  dea^  of  this  brave  young 
officer.  The  21st  regiment,  under  cdonel  Ripley,  tnoum 
it  formed  part  of  tlie  reserve,  and  did  not  participate  in 
the  action  at  the  place  of  landmg,  was  in  a  state  of  strict 
discipline,  and  manoeavred  with  great  skill. 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


129 


every 

lor  the 
[ptains 

►f  the 
fosioii« 

were 
The 

from 
|ation, 

iat^ 

bri- 
irmy 
roung 
lou^ 

ktrict 


I 


On  the  let  day  o£  May  (1813),  the  Canadian  territory  ib 
tht  neighbourhood  of  York,  was  entirely-evacuated.  Tiie 
troops  were  all  placed  in  the  vessels  to  which  tiliey  had 
been  respectively  assigned,  and  a  smi^  schooner  was 
despatched  to  Niagara,  to  apprise  general  Momm  Lewis, 
then  in  command  at  that  place,  of  the  result  of  the  expe« 
dition  against  York,  and  of  the  intended  approach  of  the 
troops  toward  fort  Niagara. 

But  the  fleet,  which  consisted  of  about  17  sail,  did  not 
leave  the  harbour  of  York  untU  the  8th,  in  consequence 
of  the  prevalence  of  contrary  winds.  Late  on  that  day,, 
they  arrived  at  Four  Mile  Creek,  which  empties  into  the 
lake  at  that  distance  below  fort  Niagara,  ana  thence  takes 
its  name.    Here  the  troops  were  landed. 

On  the  9th»  two  schooners,  under  command  of  lieute- 
nant Brown  of  the  navy,  were  ordered  to  proceed  to. 
the  head  of  lake  Ontario,  with  100  regulars,  commanded 
by  captain  Willoughby  Morgan,  of  the  12th  regiment,  to 
destroy  or  capture  ^e  public  stores,  which  were  then 
known  to  be  dfeposited  there.  On  their  arrival,  the  ene« 
my's  guard,  of  abnout  80  men,  retired;  the  public  build- 
ings were  destroyed  by  the  detachment,  i\i€  stores  brought 
away,  and  the  expedition  returned  on  the  11th,  without 
loss. 

On  tiie  10th,  commodore  Chaunc^  sailed  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  fleet,  to  convey  the  wounded  officers  and 
men  to  Sacket's  Hui>our,  and  to  obtain  reinforcements 
there  for  the  army.  Between  the  time  of  his  arrival  at 
the  harbour  and  the  23d  of  May,  detachments  of  th^ 
s(][uadron 'sailed  on  4ifiereht  days  for  Niagara,  with  such 
reinforcements  as  could  be  spared.  Having  directed  the 
schooners  Fair  American  and  Pert,  commaiided  by  lieu- 
tenants Chauncey  and  Adams,  to  r^mai^i  near  the  har- 
bour, and  to  watch  the  enemy's  moveinents  from  Kings- 
ton, the  commodore  sailed  on  the  22d  with  350  of  colonel 
M*Comb*s  regiment  of  artillery,  and  a  number  of  addi- 
tional guns,  and  arrived  at  the  Niagara  on  the  25thr— 
Arran^ments  were  immediately  mme  ^between  commo- 
dore Cnauncey  and  s^iueral  Deacbom,  for  an  attack  upon 
fort  George  and  its  dependencies.  On  the  26th,  the  com- 
modore reconnoitred  the  position  at  which  tfie  troops 
weie  to  be  landed,  and  at  night  sounded  the  shore)  and 
placed  buoys  at  station^s  for  the  small  vessels.    The  weft* 


130 


UISTOmiCAL  SKXTCHES 


ther,  which  had  been  for  several  days  extremely  boister- 
ous, now  moderated,  and  it  was  agreed  that  a  conjoint 
attack,  by  the  army  and  navy,  shwild  be  made  on  the 
following  morning.  A  sufficient  quantity  of  boats,  to 
land  the  troops  in  the  order  of  attack,  had  been  by  this 
time  provided,  and  a  considerable  number  which  had 
been  6r  sevend  days  building  at  the  Five  Mile  Meadows, 
above  the  fort,  were  now  in  readiness  to  be  launched  into 
the  NilBoara  river. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  26th,  the  enemy,  having  ob- 
served ^e  preparations  for  launching  the  boiats,  opened 
a  small  battery,  which  had  been  erected  immediately 
opposite  the  meadows,  for  die  purpose,  of  annoying  the 
workmen  and  of  destroying  the  boats.  The  nre  from 
tins  battery  [Hroduced  a  premature  cannonade  between 
forts  Georee  and  Niagara,  which  was  followed  by  a  bom- 
bardmtot  between  all  the  batteries  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  two  forts.  The  battery  which  stood  directly  omx>- 
^  site  fort  George,  did  ^eat  injury  to  that  garrison,  and  its 
guns  were  directed  with  such  precision,  that  the  halyards 
of  the  enemy's  flag  staff  were  shot  awaj«  No  block- 
house, or  wooden  building  of  any  description,  in  or  near 
that  fort,  escaped  injury;  whilst  on  the  American  side, 
not  the  most  trifling  loss  was  sustained.  The  boats,  in 
the  meantime,  succeeded  in  passing  fort  Geoi^,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  tiie  encampment  at  Four  Mile  Creek.  On  the 
same  ni^t,  all  the  artillery^  and  as  many  troops  as  could 
possibly  be  accommodated,  were  put  on  Doard  iheJ^adi' 
80H,  the  Oneida,  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  The  re- 
mainder were  to  embark  in  the  boats,  and  to  follow  the 
fleet  At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  ^Tikv,  sij^ml 
Was  made  fw  the  fleet  to  wei^  anchor.  In  consequence 
of  the  cidmnera  fj^  the  weather,  the  schooners  were 
diliged  to  resort  to  sweeps  to  attain  their  positions ;  which 
they  did  in  the  following  order— Sailing  madters  Trant, 
in  the  Ju/ia,  and  Mix,  in  the  Gfrotr^,  tM>k  their  stations 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  silenced  a  battery,  which, 
iirom  its  situation,  commanded  the  shore  where  the  troops 
wereto  land,  about  one*^urth  of  a  mile  below  the  town 
of  Newark.  Mr.Steevens,  in  iih%  Ow^rio,  took  a  position 
to  the  north  of  the  lighthouse,  near  which  this  battery 
was  erected,  and  so  close  to  the  shore  as  to  enfilade  the 
battejy,  and  cross  the  fire  of  the  J^ia  and  Chr^ivler,-^ 


'  boister- 
conjoint 
i  OB  the 
loats,  to 
L  by  this 
lich  had 
|eadow8» 
;hed  into 

iving  ob- 
,  opened 
mediately 
Ting  the 
Are  from 
between 
»y  a  bom- 
bourhood 
itly  opfM)- 
a,  and  its 
halyards 
(o  block- 
n  or  near 
can  side, 
toats,  in 
and  pro- 
On  the 
as  could 
le  Madi- 
The  re- 
liow  the 
i;  signal 
quence 
J  were 
which 
Trant, 
stations 
which, 
troops 
e  town 
sition 
[battery 
le  the 


07  TUB  LATE  VfAM, 


idi 


Lieutenant  Browii,  in  the  Governor  Tlgmpkiiu,  stationed 
himself  near  the  Two  Mile  Creek,  on  the  enemy's  side* 
where  a  battery  had  been  erected  of  one  heavy  gun.  Lie»* 
tenant  BroMrn  m  the  Con^uettt  anchored  to  the  south-eaot 
of  the  same  battery,  opened  on  it  in  the  rear,  and  crossed 
the  fire  of  the  fi^emor  Tompkins,  Iietttena4.t  MThor- 
son  in  the  Hamilton,  lieutenant  Smith  in  the  Jigp,  and 
saiiins  master  Osgood  in  the  Scourge,  took  stations  near 
the  above,  to  cover  the  landing,  and  to  scour  the  woods 
and  the  plain. 

This  disposition  was  skilfully  effected,  and  each  vessel 
was  within  musket  shot  of  the  shore.  At  4  o'clock,  g^ 
nerals  Dearborn  and  Lewis,  with  their  suites,  went  cm 
board  iheMtdison,  and  by  that  hour  the  troops  were  all 
embarked.  The  whole  number  amounted  to  ittore  than 
4000.  The  batteries  were  now  playing  upon  each  other 
from  the  opposite  sides  of  the  nver,  and  the  troops  ad«- 
vanced  at  intervals  in  three  brigades.  The  advuice  «va« 
^*iA  by  coltmel  Scott  It  was  composed  of  the  artiUerv* 
ting  as  infantry ;  of  Forsythe^s  riflemen^  and  of  detach*- 

jts  from  infantry  re^m[ent8,  and  landed  near  the  batr 
t^,  which  had  been  wlenced  by  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins.  General  Boyd,  to  whom  the  late  general  Pike's  bri» 
gade  had  been  assicned,  commimded  the  first  line,  winch 
vm»  flankedjbiy  cornel  MClure's  Baltimore  and  Albany 
volunteers^  This  brigade  struck  the  enemy's  shore  imme- 
diately after  <|ie  advance  had  landed.  The  second  bri- 
Bade,  under  generid  Winder,  followed  next,  and  then  the 
tiiird,  under  general  Chandler.  While  th^  troops  wece 
crossing  the  lake  in  this  order,  the  wind  suddenly  aprung 
up  very  fresh  from  die  eastward,  asd  caused  a  knai^  sea 
directly  on  the  shore ;  the  boats  could  not  therefore  be 
got  off  to  land  the  troops  from  the  MuUson  and  Oneida^ 
before  the  Ist  and  2a  bribes  had  advanced,  and 
MOomb'd  reeiment,  and  the  marines  under  oaptaiB 
Smith,  did  nm.  reach  the  shore  until  the  debarkation  of 
ji^ese  brigades  had  been  completed. 

When  the  advance,  which  consisted  of  about  500  men, 
was  approaching  the  point  of  landing,  successive  volleys 
of  musketry  were  poured  upon  it  by  1900  regulars,  step 
tloned  in  a  ravine.  A  brisk  exchange  of  shot  w^  kept 
up  for  15  minutes,  the  advance,  neverdt^ess,  eontinuioc 
to  approach  the  enemy  without  faltering.    Such,  indm. 


-rr-^^TFi 


W 


ISS; 


HISTORICAL  SkXTCHES 


*tnM  tht  eagornosft  of  the  troo^  thftt  officers  and  men 
l«mMd'4iilo  the  lake  and  w.%^d  t^iHe  shore.  Captain 
wndnuui  (^  the  Sd  artillery,  WM^tl^  ilrst  man  vfpon  th6 
jmemy^  terrki^.  The  troops  wei^  now  formed  with 
^letity,  and  led  to  the  charee.  They  dro^e  the  enem^ 
from  tnefa' slroQff  \vAA,  and  dispersed  thsm  in  everj  di-. 
fection;  sonie  ot  their  forces  takiitg  to  th^e  wood  for  bel- 
ter, and  others  retreatio^  to  the  lort  '^fhe  former  were 
vigtM-oiisly  pursued  by  INrsjrthe's  kiflemftn,  and  ^e  latter 
by  the  advance,  corps  and  the  Ist  br%ade^  Few  shot 
were  fired  from  the  fort,  ^e  panic  being  instantly  com- 
municated to  the  garrison.  Fort  Niagara^  and  its  depen- 
dent battAies,  were  still  throwing  ivji  their  shot,  and  fore 
Gei>rge  han^ng  become  untenable,  the  enemy  >ha8lily  laid 
a  train  ta  the  kni^azines,  abandoned  all  their  works^  end 
iaoved  off  wi%  the  utmost  preci^i^tion  in  di^ereht  routes. 
Colonel  Scott,  with  his  lieit  v^tx^s,  continued  the  pur- 
^it,  until  he  was  recalled  oy  an  oider  from  general  Boyd. 
^Ifi^utenant  Riddle  had  been  sent  by  colonel  Scott  with 
^  detached  party,  to  annoy,  tl^  riear  of  the  enemy,  but 
not  beir^  (Hxlered  back,  at  the  time  when  the  li^t  troops 
were  recalled,  he  followed  his  route  to  il^ueenstown,  and 
took  up  several  of  hb  strangling  j^rties.  The  dragoons 
under  colonel  Bum,  crosaedT  the  l^agara  river  above  fort 
George,  at  the  moment  the  jpHai-suit  was  stopped.  The 
li^  troops  now  took  possession  of  fort  Greorge ;  colonel 
Scottf  and  CAptains  Hindman  and  Stockton,  with  their 
compatdes,  entering  first  and  extinguishing  the  fites  which 
were  intended  to  explode  the  magazine;  one  had,  how- 
ever, already  been  i>lown  up.  General  Boyd  and  colonel 
Spott  mounted  the  parapst,  and  cut  away  the  f^t^ff,  whilst 
^ptain  Hindman  8accf>^«»d  V  tajpi^  tfie  fla«  which  the 
enemy  haa  left  fiying,  and  which  1^  ^rwarded^  to  ^r^eiid 
XWrbcm.  The  American  ensign  was  then  hoisted  in  die 
town  and  fort,  and  all  the  troops  were  called  in  and  quar- 
tered. \t  1^  O\;lock,  Newajw,  and  all  its  surrounding 
batteries,  were  in  quiet  possession  of  the  American  army; 
and  such  was  the  speed  with  which  the  enemy  re^^^ted, 
tiiat  very  few  of  his  troops  were  overtaken.  General 
Dearborn's  forces  had  been  under  .<>ms  eleven  hours,  and 
were  said  tolie  too  r..i:ch  exhausted  to  pursue  him  with 
as  much  rapidity  as  he  moved  off. 


Of  THB  JJLTWi  WAK. 


133 


uid  men 
Captain 
upon  the 
led  with 
e  enem^ 
every  di-. 
for  rfiel- 
ner  were 
^e  latter 
few  &hot 
itly  com- 
td  depen- 
aikl  fore 
stily  Iftid 
orlu»  &nd 
nt  routes, 
the  pur- 
ralBoyd. 
Icott  wkh 
lemy,  but 
^t  troops 
town,  and 
1  dragons 
>ve  fort 
The 
colimel 
ii  their 
18  which 
.  how- 
colonel 
Iff,  whilst 
Inch  the 
irseial 
the 
id  quar- 
[ounding 
army; 
[^^eated, 
reneral 
irs,  and 
im  with 


At  the  time  the  eniim^  ahandonsd  his  W4»ij»,  the  wind 
had  increased.  8(i«id||k«ild  the  tea  had  iMconesa  violent 
towards  the  •hor9»,^|m'  t^  8itlia1iKi.of  Ihe  fleet  at  the 
stations  which  #ie  diflfer^iit  vB^iehi  had  takei^  was  thought 
to  be  dangerous  in  the  extreme.  Commodore  Ghateioejr 
therefore  made  aigoal  for  ^  wMe  ^et  le  wieigh,  aii4 
to  proceed  into  the  rtver*  whdfte  they  aachoied  behveen 
the  forts  Cteor^  and  2Qagiua»  Al^ough^  4»  ao6on  wm 
fought  by  inferior  nmnberis  on  ths  Aat^ric^  tide,  the  ad- 
vance, and  nart  (^  Boyd's  btig&ile  only  beine  engauisd, 
the  loss  of  tne  enemy  was  exces8iye«-^re  had  in  liSed, 
108;  in  woiiilded  163;  115  regiilaa«  weretalEenpriMnerSft 
exclusive  of  his  wo  inded,  aI)  of  whom  fell  into  tlie  hatoda 
of  the  Anericans^s  to  that  the  loss  of  ^  enemy  in 
killed^  wounded  and  piisimers,  of  his  regular  fmrce, 
ar^ounted  to  366.  The  militia  prisoners  who  were  pa- 
rolcd  to  the  number  of  507,  being  added  to  their  loss* 
mokes  a  total  of  >393,  The  Am^can  army  \<k  S9  In 
killed,  and  11 1  in  wounded.  Among  the  iorrou',  only  eo^ 
dfficer«  lieutenant  Hebart  ^3f  the  lignt  artillery.  Amwi^ 
tlw  lattef,  were  major  Kiiig  of  the  15th,  captain  Arrow- 
snath  ef  tiie  G«h,  captain  Steel'Of  the  16th,  captain  Beach 
<>f  tbe  iSSd  (who  ned  lieen^  wound^l  at  the  baitlle  of 
Qaeenstown  heights,  And  was  pixmioted  to  the  rank  of 
captaki  for  his^od  conduct  there)  and  lieutenant  Swearv 
ingen  ef  Fors^^tiie's  rifliimett.  The  Blitish  49th  (Invinci^ 
bles)  was  in  tfak  action,  and  colonel  Myers,  who  command- 
ed it,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 

In  speaking  of  the  condttclef  the  soldiers  and  seamen, 
both  general  Oe«i)om  and  commodore  GhaHncey  alleged, 
that  all  behaved  too  well  to  suffer  the  election  m  any  one 
for  commendation.  The  former,  however,  m  a  aecoi  d 
despatch  to  tke  war  department,  stated  that  the  wholu  of 
the  officers  ami  men,  discovered  that  readihess  and  ardour 
for  action,  v/hich  evinced  a  determination  to  do  honour  to 
themselves  and  their  country«>^at  the  animating  exam- 
ples set  by  general  Bovd  ana  colonel  Scott,  deserved  par- 
ticular mention,  and  that  he,  the  commander  in  chief,  was 
greatly  indebted  to  colonel  M.  Porter,  of  the  loht  ikrtille- 
ry;  to  major  Armistead,  of  the  ^  r^i^^m^:;*,  ofartillerp^; 
and  to  ca4>tain  To^en  of  the  cngineersi  fl>r  their  skilnil 
executimi,  in  demoUsldng  the  enemy^  tort  and  batteries, 
t  jeutenant  commandant  Oliver  H.  Petry^   had  ieiiied 

M 


«IM 


uisvaaicAL  sketches 


the  squadron  on  the  n^t  of  tNe  Wth^  volunteeiid  his 
services  in  the  rnntemptttad  aittftefc^and  rendered  gi'eat 
assistance  in  airaag^ngaud^saiiermtiiliding  tUe  debarkation 
of  the  troops.  On  bMrd  the  sfnoidiion,  the  loss  was  one 
kiHed  and  two  wounded.  Comasodcire  Chsuncey  was  in^ 
defotigaUe  m  his  co*qf>eratilMis  with  the  army,  in  all  its 
impoi^int  movements.  Many  (tf  the  advantages  obtain- 
ed in  this  affiiir,  are  to  be  attributed  to  his  judicious 
plan  of  silencmg  tiie  enemy's  t>atteries^*^eneral  Dear- 
bom  had  been  confined  for  several  days  ^y  a  violent 
indisposition,  but  he  refused  to  yield  the  command  of 
the  expedition,  and  issued  his  orders  x^gularly  from  his 
bed. 

Captain  P«Ty  was  despatched  to  Black  Rock  the  day 
after  <he  battie,  with  fifty  seimien*  to  take  five  vessels  to 
lake  Erie  as  soon  as  possiUe,  and  to  pr^Mure  the  whole 
squadron  for  tiie  service  by  the  15th  of  June.  Two  brigs 
had  been  launched  at  Erie»  and  two  or  three  small  sehoon- 
K&n,  had  been  purchased  into  tiie  service.  The  squadron 
was  daily  expected  to  be  in  read&iess  to  proceed  to 
Presque^sle,  to  co-operate  with  the  northwestern  army. 

On  the  28th,  genend  Dearborn  having  received  infbr- 
matkm  that  the  en<miy  had  made  a  stand  on  the  moun- 
tain at  a  place  callid  Beaver  Dam,  where  he  had  a 
deposit  of  provisions  and  stores:  and  tiutt  he  had  been 
joined  by  ^0  reguUirs  from  Kingston,  landed  from  small 
vessels  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  immediately  ordered 
general  Lewis  to  march  to  that  place,  with  Chandler  and 
Winder's  brigades,  the  light  artillery,  dragoons,  and  rifle- 
men, to  cut  off  his  retreat  Although  the  enemy's  troops 
from  fort  Erie  and  Chim^wft  had  jmned  his  main  body  at 
Beaver  Dam,  he  precipitately  broke  up  his  encampment 
on  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  and  fled  alotag  the 
mountains  to  the  head  of  the  lake.  General  Lewis's  army 
moved  on  and  took  possession  of  the  different  posts  be- 
tween fort  George  and  fort  Erie,  the  latter  of  which  was 
entered  by  lieutenant  colonel  Preston,  of  the  12th,  in  the 
evening  w  that  day;  the  post  having  been  previously 
-abandoned,  and  the  magazines  blown  up  by  tne  enemy. 
'Two  days  before,  the  Queen  Charlotte,  and  three  others, 
of  the  enemy's  vessels,  came  down  to  that  fort,  but  on 
hearing  of  the  capture  of  fort  George,  they  proceeded  up 
^  lake  to  Maiden. 


.,iii^- 


OF  TOS  JUA.TS  W/ldtt. 


IS^ 


iiA  his 
lu  gi^eat 
irkatlon 
nraa  one 
wasin*^ 
n  all  its 

obtain- 
adiciotts 
id  Dear- 

violent 
nand  of 
from  his 

the  day 
essels  to 
to  whole 
wo  brigs 
1  sehoon- 
iquadroik 
oceed  to 
jm  army, 
ed  infor- 
le  mouA- 
le  had  a 
lad  been 
Mm  small 
mdered 
dler  and 
tnd  rifle- 
's troops 
body  at 
mpm^t 
king  the 
k'g  army 
be- 
lch was 
i,  in  the 
tviously 
enemy, 
others, 
but  on 
>ded  up 


The  enemy  llpi|b§iiNpid^  his  positions  along 

the  Niagsfi^  geiipWU^M)  ret^noed  mik  laA  diifisicsi  i  to 
fort  Qeoivts  &t^^*l|  wad  rtt«u>i^^  that  general  Proc- 
tor inleiMled  to  oiaiiih  IN^  the  northwestern  ih^ntier,  to 
j<Hn  gpenecal  Vin<Mint,  wbohad  alreiidy  marched  from  that 
place,  a^  to  retrieve  4ie  misfortunes  Of  the  Br^sh  ar^i^s, 
itbecame  neeegsiunr  to  ^ess  forward  with  a  force  com- 
p^nt  to  prevent  me  amon  of  the  British  generals,  or  at 
leaat  to  intercept  them,  in  their  contemplated  route.  Ge- 
newd  Winder  ^«s  therefore  despatched  on  Ae  first  day 
of  Jime  flBlSX  Mth  ids  awn  brinide,  and  one  remment  of 
general  Chandl^fc  H^  was  followed  on  the  33,  by  the 
remaitider  of  Chandlei^  brigade,  the  dragoons  m^  artille- 
ry, under  t^  orders  (if  that  ganeral  to  whom  the  chief 
command  was  as»igBed.    They  proceeded  to  the  Fort^ 
Mile  Creek,  where  tiiey  guned  intelligence  of  genenil 
Vincent  having  ti^ken  a  stand  tt  Buriiugton  Heights, 
near  Stoliy  Creek,  beii^  about  4&  miles  distant  from  the 
fort  Greorge*    In  t^e  vicinity  of  Stony  Creek,  the  AmiQ» 
ricans  encamped  >  but  in  so^^  careless  a  manner,  that  they 
were  surprised  by  the  enemy  at  midni^t,  and  several  of 
their  principal  officers  made  prisoners.    General  Vincent, 
it  has  been  supposed,  beca  ao  possessed  of  the  American 
countersign-^and  having  discovered   that  the         kegrt 
part  of  the  camp  was  its  centre,  he  made  an  attu  >n 

it,  at  that  point,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  oi  llie 
siitth.  Prontiiig  by  the  example  <tf  the  Americans  at 
York,  he  ordeirSi  that  no  musket  should  be  loaded,  lest 
a  precipitate  fire  mi^t  apprise  his  unsuspecting  enem;^ 
of  his  advance,  and  led  up  the  8th  or  K^s  regiment, 
and  the  49th,  with  fixed  kyonets,  to  charge  upon  the 
sentinels.  The  American  advanced  guard,  under  com- 
mand of  cantain  Van  Vechton,  were  first  alarmed  by  the 
groan  of  a  dying  sentinel,  and  were  surprisied  and  made 
prisoners.  Five  pieces  of  light  artillery,  near  the  front 
were  capttti'e4  aad  turned  upon  tile  encampment,  before 
the  alari^  became  seneral.  Tne  two  brig^ners.  Chandler 
and  Winder,  who  nad  but  an  hour  before  separated  from 
a  council,  were  instantly  mounted,  and  the  men  formed 
with  as  much  facility  as  the  extreme  darkness  of  the 
morning  wnuld  permit  General  Chandler  took  post  in 
the  rear4>f  the  left  Hank  of  the  right  wing^^-generai  Win- 
der commanded  the  left  wing.   Such  was  tM  momentary 


^06 


UlftTORlCTAI.  SMMTC^BES 


e<mfii8ioii  which  prevaUed,  tii«t^/to»leiiding  parties 
ewM  not  dfetbigunh  each  other;  ^iKii  Ihefive  i^eces 
of  artillerf  were  ired  into  tha  ^oa«i{i«iei?<t»  gpeneh^ 
Chandler  and  Witidrtr  botii  roAt  «p  to  the  batt^,  to 
IMnevetit  another  d'isch^rge,  under  an  impression  that  the 
American  troops  had  mistaken  the  enemy.  They  were 
bo^  conseqttentty  captured.  The  ot^er  officershwerei^-^ 
^rant  <yf  the  loss  oi  their  generals,  and  each  chose  his 
own  plan  of  resisting  the  assailing  party.  Tfaie>  advanced 
eoips,  the  Sih,  QS%  and  part  of  the  S9d,  were  engaged; 
tfcose  in  the  rear  did  not  get  to  the  assistance  «>f  the  li^nt. 
The  16th,  "^ch  because  of  the  iltnes»(^iis  colonel,  and 
the  abstoee  of  its  lieutenant  colonel,  and  other  field  oil- 
cers,  was  commanded  by  captain  Steele,  was  formine  on 
i^  standards,  when  the  cavalry  under  Colonel  Bum,  hav- 
ing cut  their  way  throueh  tiie  British  49th,  with  such 
impetuosity  that  mey  could  not  stop,  pierced  throngh  the 
^centre  of  uiat  i>egiment  The  conmsion  increased.  The 
dillerent  companies  of  the  16th,  were  firing  on  each 
other;  the  artillery  were  engaging  the  infantry,  and  the 
cavalry  the- artillery;  each  corps  being  under  an  impt%s- 
sion,  tnat  it  was  contending  with  the  enemy. 
'  Itiis  state  of  things  continued,  until  captain  Towson 
opened  his  artillery,  which^  being  stationeu  .u^e  in  the 
rear  than  any  of  the  other  pieces,  he  brought  against  the 
enemy  with  such  eifect^  that  the  confusion  and  disorder, 
¥^ich  had  taken  |;^ace  in  the  American  lines,  prevailed 
also  within  the  British.  The  companies  of  the  2d  artille- 
ry, which  wen  then  acting  as  l^ht  corps,  under  captains 
Hindman,  Nicholas,  Biddle,  and  Archer,  kept  up  an  in- 
cessant fire,  nntil  the  dawn  of  the  day  enablea  the  troops 
t<V  distii^ish  each  other.  An  attevipt  a\  as  then  made  to 
f<mrm  the  line,  colonel  Bum  now  cummaiiding.  The  5t!i 
re^ment,  which  had  beCn  am.'ying  ih»  enemy,  from  tlie 
^MMimencement  of  the  action  until  daytn-eak,  aid  not  lose 
one  man,  and  was  foufid  at  that  time  formed  in  line,  and 
sctstained  on  its  left  fiank  by  part  of  the  Sdd,  under  majoi* 
Armstrene.  The  firing  irom  the  encampment  became 
bri»%  and  irresistible.  The  enemy  gave  way,  rallied 
and  broke  again.  The  dragoons  charged  upon,  an<»  com- 
pletely nutted  them.  They  fled  in  every  iirectiiop,  and 
their  commanding  officer  was  missing  before  day.  His 
hors^  and  accoutrements  were  found  upon  the  ^ound. 


«r  THE  I.ATE  WAB•^! 


\t 


;  parties 
B  i^eces 

btwpy,  to 
that  the 
«jy  were 

[jhose  hi9 
advanced 
BSigaged; 
the  front 
!)nel,aiiid 
ileidaffi- 
nniiieon 
iUrti,nav- 
dth  such 
roBgh  the 
led.  The 
on  eacli 
and  the 
1  impt^s- 

Towson 
^e  in  the 
gainst  the 
disorder, 
revailed 
artille- 
captains 
p  an  in- 
e  troops 
made  to 
The  5t!i 
from  the 
not  lose 
line,  and 
r  majoi- 
became 
raUied 
i\  com- 
OT^,  and 
>•    His 
.i^round. 


and  he  himself  waa  difcovered  by  las  own  people,  ill  ^ 
course  of  the  aaii|ft^;|f|  almjost  faitnahed,  at  a  autiliiee  of 
four  miles  from  tfa^  ictene  of  action. 

Seveidl  deiqierate  eflSurta  Had  been  made  befiHre  the  en- 
emv  fled,  to  take  tiie  artiUety.    I^euteBant  lAuiieBni^fl 
galuuttry  recovered  one  niece,  and  prevented  the 
of  others.    lieutenant  Mllonougb,  of  the  ^  a 
pursued  a  retrea^ng  party,  and  recovered  aL>other* 

^jood  conduct  of  ihoae  breve  youiw  men,  as  well  as  that  of 
capfiains  Hindman,  Nich<das,  Archer,  Steel;  andXeoMrd* 
or  the  light  artillor/,  has  been  spoto  of,  if^  8®^"^^^* 
ders,  in  l^rms  of  stronff  commendationtf^-^^'orontil  [Qm 
and  Cidouel  Mftton,  gauantly.  distinguished  themli^i^s, 
'^nd  wet^.  said  to  have  saved  the  army.  The  American 
loss  in  this  affiiir,  was  16  killed,  38  wounded,  and^  bri- 
gadiers ^neral,  1  miuor,  3  captains,  and^  men  missing; 
making  in  all  154.  The  whole  of  the  miisuig;^  fell  into  & 
4kands  of  the  enemy<*-»i^ho8e  loss  was  exce^ivelv  severe, 

ibut  particularly  in  officers.    100  prisoners^  mostly  of  ^ 

v^dth,  were,  captured,  and  transported  to  fort  George^— 
Cfttktain  Manners,  of  Ihat  reraument,  bein^  illj  was  teken 
in  his  bed,  by  lieutenant  Riddle,  who,  from  a  princi|de  of 
humanity,  put  Mm  on  his  pardc>  on  condition  of  his  not 
serving  the  enemy,  until  he  should  be  exchanged^— An 
engagement  which  that  officer  violated,  by  anpeaiing  in 
arms  against  th^.  American  troops,  immediately  after  the 
recovery  of  his  health. 
In  the  course  of  the  morning,  the  British  sent  a  flag 

v^f  truce,  to  obtain  permission  to  bUry  their  dead,  and  to 
remove  their  wounaed.»The  latter,  however,  had  been 

placed  in  the  nei^  ixMirine  houNis,  under  the  care  of  the 
American  sur^vO^^,  and  9ie  army  having  given  up  the 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  had  fallen  back  to  Forty  Mile 
Creek,  being  about  ten  mileii  in  the  rear  of  the  field  of 
battle.  Here  it  encamped,  on  a  plain  of  a  mile  in  width, 
its  right  flank  on  the  lake,  its  len  oh  the  creek,  skirting 
the  base  of  a  perpendicular  mountain,  and  was  joined  on 
the  same  evening,  by  a  detachment  of  the  Gth  and  15th 
reeiments,  and  a  park  of  artillery,  under  colonel  James 
AuUer.  On  the  7th  of  June,  generals  Lewis  and  Boyd 
arrived  at  the  encampment,  and  the  former  assumed  uie 
command. 
Intelligence  had  been  immediately  forwarded  by  gene^ 

M  ^ 


138 


HIST«BICiX  SKETCHES 


til  Viiie«iit,:to  sir  lAniiB%'¥«Ot  tl  jb  cdmmati^iBa  the 
Britiah  fleet  btt  lake  Ontario,  of  t^  iffidr  at  Stony  Creek, 
and  of  the  position  at  which  the  Americans  had  encamp- 
6(l*  In  tlie  evening  of  the  7th«  the  fleet  appeared  within 
sight  of  the  eneampment  Its  character  was  not  known, 
however ;  bat,  lest  an  attack  might  be  amin  made  upon 
timknaf  in  the  nigh^  the  trocms  were  oraered  t&  lay  on 
th(^  anifs.  At  dayli|^t,  on  the  8th,  the  enemy's  vessels 
Weitt  stationed  abMast  of  the  ^ciunpment,  ^aiA  within 
ottO'iikilci  of  thfC  shore.  A  laitte'eohooBer  was  warped  in, 
mA  Qjiened  her  fire  on  the  boats  which  had  been  em- 
l^jred  to  transport  the  American  baggage,  and  which  at 
diat  time  lay  upon  the  beach.  Captains  Archer  and  Tow- 
son,  wepe  ordered  down,  Mth  four  pieces  of  artilleiy,  to 
i:*esist  her  attempts  to  destroy  the  biAts;  and  captain  Tot^ 
ten,  of  ^e  en^neers,  prepared  a  temporary  furnace,  for 
heating  shot,  and  had  it  in  ^peratioii  in  less  thanlii^  an 
hottr.  Ithe  fire  of  the  sehooner  "vas  then  retamed  with 
sttch  vivacity  and  eihot,  that  she  was  very  soon  oUiged 
to  retire.  At  this  moment,  a  pttty  of  Indians  showed 
Ihemsdives  upon  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  and  com- 
menoed  a  fire  on  the  camp.  General  Lewis  demtched 
a  party  from  Ihe  iStli  redmen^  under  colonel  Christie, 
to  dtslodes  them,  but  thai  service  ivas  performed  bj  his 
adjutant, lleutffiiantBldridee,  who?  feeing  the  necessity  of 
driving  ^  Ihe^^^iins,  hw  gallantly  gained  the  si^mmit 
of  the  mountajm  with  a  few  volunteers,  without  orders, 
and  repulsed  the  enemy  before  colonel  Christie  could 
reach  that  point  Sir  James  idien  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  armv,  on  ike  ground  of  its  having  a  fleet  in  its 
front,  a  body  «f, ravages  in  its  rear,  and  a  powerful  army 
of  British  regDdars  on  its  flanks.  To  this  demand  it  was 
deemed  unnecessary  to  make  a  reply;  but  as  general 
^^eapbom  had  sent  an  express  to  recaf  the  troops  to  fort 
tBfeorge,  upon  seeing  the  tfritish  fleet  pass  that  post,  gene- 
ral Iiiewis  prepared  to  retire.  In  obedience  to  tluS  order. 
The  caapp  equipafte  and  baggage  were  placed  in  the 
boBitSyiuia  were  erlered  to  proceed  to  fort  George,  undf»- 
pMoctien  of  ootonel  Miller^  command,  which  was  com- 
p^ttent  to  resist  ipv  attack  which  ihi^  be  madeM4mt 
4bey  p«t  from  the  more  before  the  detachment  came  up; 
and  alter  proeeedine  about  5  miles,  were  dispersed  by  an 
amid  ichooner  of  the  enemy.    12  of  them  feU  into,  the 


fi^iiig  the 
•ny  Greek, 
i  encarap- 
■ed  within 
Dt  known, 
uuie  ttpion 
to  lay  on 
'*»  Tesseis 
m1  within 
carped  in, 
been  em- 
which  at 
mdTow- 
iUeiy,  to 
tain  Tot- 

iliatf  an 

tted  witb 
iobli|^ 

>  showed 
nd  c«Nii. 
^atehed 
Christie, 
d  bj  his 
•sBStttyrf 
ai^mmit 

•  orders, 
«  could 
irrender 
i  in  its 
iilartn|r 
I  it  was 
general 

>  to  fort 
t»gene- 
i  order. 

IB  the 
,  in^^ 

ISCOBi- 

ief«4lat 
Bieup; 
ibyan 
^.the 


03P  TM  XAi,  „^^^ 


139- 


hands  Of  the  Britiih  j-iaA^n       a^  '^^ 

"^P*  twok  up  their^Mi-lj:  5     Jt  ""*«ti  np,  and  iko^ 
enemyfe  bwiJ.?.  ^"^'?»^  for  fort  OeonwLtjS?.  5! 


t^>f  ^e^iSl'CTnl^^  »ei«hbo«r. 

caw  rf  hospital  stow  weJ^^^^^  «wh  a  vidtiaNe 

J*d  to  thi  enemyfVSil^    "i^f^^^^J^tely  <riiX^ 
ftj^ajled  by  geJenH:'^^^  men^hadTS^ 

^*'  -<**  -efc  the  pUee  (n'Zr'i'';^:^^^^ 

tawwa  to  hiwe  abwidMiSA.    ******»"»«  funeral  was 
pMe.^«^nasZff  ^  command  afthe  J^ 

SStef '  ^  ^  'S:^  i«S2wi±S  ^'*^  -5 


■™  nnuan  eflkcted  a  rebnt  ifcZ  2i''Ir"T'  Wwwfc  and 


140 


UISTORICIA  SKKT0HE8 


portant  jjMwts  on  the  Britisli  I^agahi,  whicbr  had  been 
taken  at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood,  and  the  deatruc* 
tion  of  the  gamaons  on  the  American  side  of  that  river, 
which  happened  not  many  month*  after,  were  among  the 
least  pdmtciotts  of  a  long  train  of  disasters.  A  develop- 
ment which  can  only  be  produced  by  a  gradaal  hqise  of 
time,  may  enable  the  fnture  historian  to  expose  the  mis- 
taken policy  upon  which  the  deplorable  causes  were  found- 
ed. No  discovery  has.  yet  been  made^  from  which  the  pre- 
sent recorder  of  these  events  can  f(Nrm  jm  v  o&er  idea,  man 
that  which  is  founded  on  uncertainty  and  conjecture;  and 
these  do  not  go  to  the  constitution  of^such  an  authentic  his- 
tory of  the  war,  as  it  has  been  his  utmost  endeavour  to 
compSe. 

Whtlst  the  troops  were  preparing  to  embark  at  York, 
for  the  expedition  asainst  rort  Georse,  the  British  at  King- 
ston, having  gainea  intelfigence  ot  tiiekr  absence  fi^m 
^acke^s  Harbour;  of  the  batteries  atHhat  place  having 
i^een  prineipaUy  ^smantled ;  and  of  the  smiutoesa  of  tiie 
force  which  had  been  lett  for  its  protection  $  hastily  col- 
lected all  their  disposables,  and  embarked  on  boara  4iieir 
fleets  under  the  command  of  sur  Gmsbi^  vPrevo^ :  #  .eet 
itself  beinc  commanded  bv  sir  James  ¥eo.  CM  ^^M^t 
ai  the  STthofAfoyx^vcnours  after  the  capture- of  rorlk 
Qeoige,  the  British  appeared  off  the  entrance  te  'w  har- 
bour. The  Americant.force  cOBsiited  of  280  invalids, 
and  iiSO  dragoons,  then  iiewlv  arrived,  from  a  long  and 
fttigung  march.  Two  small  vessels^  under  lieutenant 
Ghauncey,  were  stationed  at  its  mouth,  and  cave  mstant 
ngnals  oi  alarm*  at  the  approach  of  the  Britiui'  squadron. 
Expresses  were  immediately  forwarded  to  general  Brown, 
then  at  his  seat^  8  miles  from  the  harbour,  and  he  imme- 
diately repaired  thither  to  take  the  command. 

The  tQur  of  du^  of -the  militia  of  his  brigade,  had  ex- 
pired many  weeks  before,  but  he  had  been  requested  by 
gen«nd  Deaibom,  to  take  command  of  lice  hubour,  at 
anytimei  when  the  enemy  should  a{i|>rQach  it,  and  topro- 
me  for  its  defence.  ImmediatebTwi  his  arrival,  depo- 
sitions were  made  to  thai  effiBot  Xie  movements  of  the 
enemv  in<ficated  his  intention:  to  land  on  the  pemnsula, 
callea  Horse  Island.  General  Brown  therefore  determin- 
ed on  restating  him  at  the  water's  edge,  with  tiie  Albany 
volunteers*  under  colonel  Mills*  and  such  militia  as  could 


t  had  been 

that  river, 
ttnongthe 
^  develop* 
^  lapee  of 
le  the  mis- 
i^erefouml- 
ch  the  pre- 

cture;and 
heritichis- 
leavour  to 

ailTork, 
hatKing^ 
Bce  fHrni 
^  havuig 

i^lr  eol- 
>ard 'their 

t>    :»t 

^<%ht 
rof  fcrt 
'  Whar- 

latogmid 
iuleBttit 
imstaiit 
luadrisii. 
Brown, 
e  imme- 

had  ex- 
ited by 
our,  at 
topro- 
>dJMpo- 
(oitthe 
ansula, 
«nnin- 
Ubaay 

(GOBld 


heinstaJttUycoJIectiid     Ai. 

Ch«,„ce^        "*^^»"'**»  committed  t^S^f 
gj-.boate.  with  S3  toTbo'SiL^f'  2  «hSS,«^,  ^ 

J«*«»r.  when.  havinJ  SS^  t".  'T^  '"  *^ 
"^W.  the  whole  of  tt.;.  i.    ^    '    '™  troons  fi-om  o. 

te*e"-  crew,,  wto  «rri^  .TS.^'if'T  «••»  "Amdwed 
fne remainder. sevin)!.  »     ^  **  »«rboar  in  th«  ni-tT 

SMhagfrom  Oaweso.  stood  inSfo^'^^**^'  would  Kb 
«d  their  armed  bS  to^Xv  .ll™*  ^y-*"''  degp«tch! 
Atappaintedj  and  d«A«li  Lu'"-,.^?  ^  ihe/Wre 
WIS  interruption  of  th^i^    j  j^  "'»«''  *»»  caued  h^ 

wth  the  invadimr  enemy  Th.i^.*"»W  *»  f>e  eodtei 
tK-ned  on  the  w«ir^W^;„ef?X*2?.  *'*»»-  to  beTtl 
neli^ll»_wa,  posted  witt  hl^^.SS.^'^  "S.J^'*  "*»- 
MAatpointwashearlT^riL       '^0^    The  straB«Sr 

exoefcd  1000.    ^SHLrf?^  "U"  »»«li<»%  did^' 
*ith  great  slalL«S|tf  1 ''•**'*  *«dheeni^ 

ChL'^.^''^'^*^" -^e  rfSit^^^ 
«hJ^  •'*■**  «»«»>r*  c        r^al*^'^  «*  moot 


149 


HISTORICAL  8ILBTCHES 


'  t 


sistance  to  the  ftttaek  of  the  ehemj  should  still  fail,  lieu- 
tenant  Chauricey  was  to  destroy  the  stores  at  Navy 
Point,  and  to  retire  with  his  two  schooners^  ahd  tHe 
prize  ichooner,  th^  Duke  of  Gloucester,  which  had  been 
a  few  weeks  before  captured  from  the  enemy,  to  the 
south  bfaoif^  of  the  bay,  and  east  of  fort  Volunteer.  In 
this  fort  the  regulars  and  militia  were  to  shut  them- 
selves up,  and  nuJte  a  vip^us  stand,  as  their  only  re- 
maining resort  Every  thing  being  thus  ordered,  gene- 
ral Brown  directed  his  diefensive  army  to  lay  upon  their 
arms,  whilst  he  continued  personally  to  reconnoitre  the 
shores  of  the  harbour  durin^^  the  whole  night  of  the  28th. 
At  tiie  only  fiivourable  point  of  landing,  he  had  caused 
a  breastwork  to  be  thrown  up,  and  a  battery  en  barbette, 
to  be  erected.  Behind  this  most  of  the  mflitta  were  sta- 
tioned. 

At  the  dawn  of  the  29di,  the  enemy  was  discovered 
^ith  his  Vessels  drawn  up  in  line,  between  Horse  Island 
and  Stony  Point;  and  in  a  few  minutes,  all  his  boats  and 
barges  approached  the  i^re,  under  cover  of  his  ^n  boats, 
those  being  the  heaviest  of  his  vessels,  which,  m  cons(s- 
quence  of  the  li^tness  of  the  winds,  could  be  brou^t 
up.  Tlie  txt)ops  with  which  the  boats  were  filled,  were 
commanded  by  sir  Geoif^  Prevost  in  person.  Commo- 
dore Yeo  directed  the  movements  of  the  barges.  Ge- 
neral Brown  instantly  issued  his  orders,  that  £e  troops 
should  lay  close,  ana  reserve  their  fire  until  the  enemy 
should  have  approached  so  n^ttr,  that  every  shot  might 
take  effect  Tms  order  was  executed^  and  the  fire  was 
so  destructive,  ^at  the  enemy's  advance  boats  were 
obliged  to  make  a  temporary  pause,  and  numbers  of  ^eir 
officers  and  men  were  seen  to  fall.  Encouraged  by  the 
desired  effect  of  the  first  fire,  the  militia  loaded  their 
pieces  with  the  utmost  quickness,  and  the  artillery  Was 
(Nrdered  to  be  opened  at  Uie  moment  of  th^ir  second.  But 
before  the  seccmd  round  had  been  completely  dischaiged, 
the  whole  body  of  the  militia,  none  of  whom  had  e  jr 
seen  an  enemy  until  now,  and  who  were  entirely  unac- 
customed to  subordination,  though  they  were  well  pro- 
tected by  the  breastwork,  rose  from  behind  it,  and  aban- 
doning those  honourable  promises,  which  l^y  had  made 
but  a  Tittle  while  before,  tneyfied  with  equal  precipitation 
and  disorder.   A  strange  and  unaccountable  panic  seized 


OF  THB  LAT£  WilB. 


143 


finil,  lieu- 
it  Navy 
atid  the 
lad  been 
V  t©  the 
teer.  In 
it  them- 

only  re- 
id,  gene- 
pon  their 
oitre  the 
the  28th. 
d  caused 

barbette^ 
were  sta- 

iscoTered 
se  Island 
[KMits  and 
|un  boats, 
in  cons^ 
*  brou^t 
ed,  were 
Contmo- 
;e8.    Ge- 
ve  troops 
e  enemy 
ot  might 
fire  was 
its  were 
i  of  their 
li  by  the 
ed  Iheir 
ery  Was 
d.  But 
harged, 
ad  e  ^r 
y  unac- 
pro- 
aban- 
made 
pitation 
seized 


the  whole  line;  and  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few,  ter- 
ror and  dismay  were,  depicted  on  every  countenance^  Co- 
lonel Mills,  vainly  endeavouring  to  rally  his  men,  was 
killed,  as  he  was  reminding  them  of  the  solemn  pledgef 
which  thev  had  ^ven;  but  the  f<Ul  of  this  brave  ofS&cer 
served  rather  to  increase  their  conlusiou,  than  to  actuate 
them  to  avenge  it 

General  Brown  seeing  that  his  plan  was  idready  frus- 
trated, and  fearing  his  inability  to  execute  any  other* 
without  the  vigorous  co-operation  of  the  militia,  hasten- 
ed to  intercept  their  retreat;  and  finding  one  company 
of  about  100  men,  who  had  been  rallied  by  the  active 
and  zealous  conduct  of  captain  M*Nitt,  <^  that  corps,  he 
brought  them  up,  and  ordered  them  to  form  in  line  with 
the  regulars  and  volunteers,  who  had  continued  to  keep 
their  ground. 

In  tiie  interval,  which  had  thus  elapsed,  the  enemy  had 
efiected  his  debarkation,  with  little  opposition;  and  draw- 
ing up  his  whole  force  on  Hoise  Isiand,  commenced  his 
march  for  the  village;  on  the  rond  to  which,  he  was  met 
by  a  small  party  of  in&ntry,  under  mi^or  Aspinwall,  and 
a  few  dismounted  dragoops,  under  major  Laval,  wha  op- 
posed hun  wi^  much  gallantry^  Two  of  the  ^n  boats 
rang^  up  the  shore,  and  coi^ored  the  field  with  grape. 
This  hanaittl  of  troops  then  jgradually  retted  in  good  or- 
der, from  an  immense  superiority  oi  numbers,  and  occu- 
pied the  intervals  between  the  bajrfitks* 

lieutenaiit  colonel  Backus,  with  his  reserve  of  regu- 
lars, first  eittisKed  the  enemy,  when  the  militia  company 
of  captain  MrStt  was  formed  on  his  flank;  and  in  the  vi- 
gorous fight  y^ich  then  followed,  this  company  behaved 
with  as  much  gallantry  as  the  bravest  of  the  regulars. 
The  whole  force  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  however,  by 
the  supeiior  strenffth  of  tlie  enemy^  column,  and  resort- 
ing to  ^e  barracks  for  what  shelter  they  could  affi»rd, 
they  posted  themselves  in  the  unprotected  log  houses,  and 
kept  up  an  incessant  ai^  effective  fire.  From  these,  the 
most  violent  assault^  and  the  rntcAted  and  varying  efforts 
of  the  British*  were  inconq)etent  to  disloctoe  mem.  Co- 
lonel Gray,  the  quarter  master  general  of  the  enemy's 
forceSt  advanced  tx>  the  weakest  part  of  the  barracks,  at 
the  he)Ml  of  a  xsoliimn  of  regulai^  and  after  exehangins 
shoto  with  an  iitfertor  party  of  militia  and  regulars,  led 


144 


IlTSTOmiCAL  SKETCHES 


hb  men  on  to  the  assault.  A  small  boy,  who  was  a 
drummer  in  major  Aspinwall's  corps,  seized  a  musket, 
and  levelling  it  at  the  colonel,  immediately  brought  him 
to  tfie  cround.  At  that  moment,  lieutenant  Fanning,  of 
the  armlery,  who  had  been  so  severely  wounded  by  the 
explosion  at  Little  York,  and  was  yet  considered  to  iie 
unable  t»  do  any  kind  of  duty,  leaned  u)>on  his  piece 
whitet  it  was  drawn  up,  and  having  given  it  the  proper 
elevation,  dischaived  tiiree  rounds  of  grape  into  the  faces 
of  liie  enethy,  who  immediately  fell  bacK  in  di8Qrder.p^ 
At  ^is  instant,  lieutenant  colonel  Backus  fell,  severely 
wounded. 

Whilst  the  battle  was  raging  with  its  ereatest  violence, 
information  was  brou^t  to  lieutenant  Chauncey,  of  the 
intention  of  the  American  forces  to  surrender.  He  there- 
fore, in  conformity  to  his  previous  orders,  relating  to  such 
an  event,  fired  the  navy  barracks,  and  destroyed 'all  the 
property  and  public  stcnres,  which  had  previously  belong- 
ed to  the  harbour,  as  well  as  the  provisions  and  equip- 
ments which  had  been  brought  from  York.  The  des^c- 
tion  of  these  buildings,  ana  the  conflagration  which  was 
thence  produced,  was  thought  to  have  been  caused  by 
the  troops  of  the  enemy  $  and  although  the  undHsoiplined 
militia  and  volunteers,  a*d  the  invalid  regulars,  were*  sus- 
picious of  being  pUeed  between  the  fe«  of  two  divisions 
of  the  British,  tney  continued  to  fight  on,  regardless  of 
their  inferiority,  or  the  consequences  of  their  capture,     i 

0eneral  Brown  was  all  this  time  actively  superintend- 
ing  the  operations  of  his  little  army.  He  now  determined 
oi^  making  a  diversion  in  its  favour,  which,  if  it  should  be 
«ttCcesrfttE  would  be  the  only  means  of  saving  the  place, 
or  of  relieving;  his  esriisusted  troops.  Having  learned 
tiiat  the  militm,  w^  had  fled  from  their  stations  in  the 
early  part  of  the  engagement,  had  not  yet  entirely  dis- 
persed, and  fliat  tht^  were  still  witfiin  a  short  distance 
<tf  th«  scene  of  action,  he  luistened  to  exhort  them  to 
imitate  the  conduct  of  their  brave  brethr^  in  arms.  He 
r^RDSiched  diem  with  shameful  timidity,  and  ordered 
them  iisstantly  to  form  and  Isllow  him,  and  threatened 
^th  instant  death,  the  first  matt  who  should  refuse^- 
His  order  was  obeyed  with  alacrity.  He  then  attempted 
a  8tarfttagem>  by  which  to  ^teceive  the  enemy,  with  re- 
gard to  the  ^es  against  wl^eh  He  w»s  contendingr-^ 


'^t 


4IT  THE  LATH  WAB. 


HH 


»itl«(if iNO^I  thrb^    4ifl«intWood,#i^  UJ^Mrtf 
#B  ^t/m^mimdiim  \m^  §^^  '^mm 

Tl^fili^^  liM;  Mi#^  otltct  tt  iS^  mmtmt  nrlttMi 
the  t^dTliiiifitti^ifigfe^^  pm  mSitm^  ^  i0- 
strttdSHii  ill  tii^'Wt^  Ult^miMiiiia  ^^^      1^ 
imt  1!^  wdF  coi»fl9ci^  iKf  tiie^q^ 
American  fMii0  ffff\01o^'  Ri  ai^  tip  Ht^  4|mm#%  4»f 

off  immediateiT  to  Bie  BHM  MiM#bi^  lie  Krw  tti|t<g|it«- 


had  been  exposed  td'hit  #^^,  hie  |^<Mlil  MirvMiM  to 
the  ceiit^g^  <Bi^t  easily  htmimMkf^,  aait  m iH  h<K 
mtak  j^^ability,  w«^d  stlli  .Mt^e  c^iillii^  t^  and 

But  the  I)recipita4^  ^  1^  f^tW^  mi^fihtdlmMt 
li^  #^  the  ^  ouhdt^  l^sdiw  ffrliis  o)ni»sffi*Y  bk^k  imh 

dist^jllttished  c(*  hi»ol|ieii^    Aib^^  tfBm$r 

iiiMergii^ii^  G^nij»  iliiiiMaNllfoo^ii^dli^^ 
ciiiitiaalr  I'he  retHrii  ^f  t^b^  a#a«aiii(t<^^a»#1lii» 
lli«^  asieertained,  amottdHed^^  im^iiSicm-  %  «#Na»> 
mi'f^  mtk  aiid fi^^#|^ i#^^ i^  S^eipiiM^ 
Md  ias  n^k  aa^  ffltt  ft^^  #iii(^^  «&d  3  caftpi9>  1 
^in^l^  dm  SS  rank  and  ffl^  Klaiite  prisoners.    In  im> 

bcH»^teid  bei^i^ieairied  aii%  pv^Hl^il^llQl^ 
liQii'^^^Aineiftein  mali«i^^'iki'W|«i^iH!«^'m- 

nuiAber  of  their  megHMuipE  li^isie'l^  dse  eeftnid  &:. 
volii)a.te^^  ^lii(«i^^^p^^i^ 
were  I^M^  Iv  &ii^  3  lieutftiwii«Bi  mi  T 

en^d^  ef^1li#^»^1i^i  Mi  IP^^iloii-cieiiimiliiQiiMd^i^^ 
and  pi^t^  INK^iiM^aiid  5i^  ttttiiN^Mnidfiid  iHMii 

^e  itoAber  of  thoi^^iMurMl^  %1if  1^^ 

the  iimidiltr  isit^'^i^  li^te«%^1Nile  giSM^  «f 
s^^era^i^miiiij^lli^iili^wb^^  HcRlfeii* 


^"i'^i 


N 


o.  ,..-, 


/f^ 


r 


'TsspyTr'"' 


mmsm:'* 


146 


UIST^ICAL  SKE^eaES 


Bant  ChauQcey  was  no  sooner  appmed  of  the  «nor  oi*  the 
repoi^ nrhich  m&  been  broi^t  to^hlm,  tl»m  he  made  ererjr 
exerti^on  to  save  as  much  of  the  public  property  ks  it  was 
po^ible  to  rescue  from  the  incr^iuii%  conftigraMon,  and 
to  that  efiect,  he  ran  the  Fair  Almeritan  and  the  Fe<*t  ^) 
th^  river.  The  new  frigate,  the  ge^ral  Pike,  which  was 
tben  on  the  stoi^ks,  was  sann^;  and  Iteuteiua^Talaiaii,,  of 
tlie  armjr,  at  the  imminent  twkj^f  his  lifci*  boa]^4  \he 
prtz0  scnooner  the  Duke  of 'Oioiieester,  which  was  then 
on^v,  with  a  considerable  daantitj  of  powder  in  her 
ftol4  extibg4^hed  the  fire,  and  brou^t  her  from  under 

the  femes  of  the  i»toreh(»udes.:^;..,;;e  ; . :^' : ■''  ^^  ■-%. ■  - -^^ -  - 

l^otwithiftanding  this  signaTrei^lsci  tlte  British  com- 
mafi^ing  offiicersmtempted  tp  play  off  a  strata^mj  which 
sir  James  YeoafterWai^s  adopted  at  the  Forty  Mile  Cri»«k. 
Thfj  se^t  ill  a  fias^  with  a  peremptory  demand:  ii»rf  the 
formal  surrender  of  the  post,  which  was  as  peresi}t^torily 
refund;  After  a  fwced  march  i^f  4Q  miles  in  on.  day, 
lieutena)^  colonel  Tattle  haJ  arrived  with  his  coBPrnim 
of  about  600  men,  |ust  as  the  British  were  retre«^g  to 
their  br-^ts,  und  was  tiierefare  too  late  to  p&rMtipateHb 
thi^  ae^^r  l>^er  reinforcements  were  con^ui^ly  ex- 
pected* tmA  ^  hfttWii*  would  be  inia  sitn^tei  to  mdk^ 
a  iHore  vieorous,  thoi^^  not,  perhaps*  a  moi#  bril^lki^t 
d^^einee.  ^  Tix  return  of  the  eisemy,  even  under  the  ad- 
vani^s  of  mere  fii^oural^e.  winds,  was,  therefore^  not 
looltea  Ibr  wl\'h  any  apprehension.  A  bjpctnd  Aag  wns  ve- 
oeived  by  ^neral  Brqwn^  acconnpaiiied  by  a  r<&%iiest^  tiiat 
the  killed  and  wounded  o^  the  Biiti^,  might  b6»  trended 
with  respect  |n  answ^  to  this,  the  moat  Mtlsfactory 
assurances  of  comidlBnce  were  giyem 

Aft^r  b^ng  oemp^'ied  to  relinquish  tiie  ^jrther  prose- 
eution  of  f^n  expeditiaf^^^  having  for  ita  primary  oligect  the 
^aptufre  and  destruction  of  a  post,  tiie  permanent  popse»* 
lien  of  wMch  onlr,  could  ^e  tw^e  Ameiicana  aiijrj^  P^ 
m  a  superiority  on  the  luce  "Ontario;  t^r  kavintf  ftac> 
cee^ed  i^  his  eriUj^ie»  in  a  degree  whicii  scarcely  de- 
f^ervi&s  to  be  termed  par^i  and  after  being  obll<*ea,  by 
the  pre^minance  oiim  iq|i«rehenabn  over  hii  Sravery 
an^  rorasii^tk  to  retire  ^nm  tne  aisaiut,  imd  precicitately 
to  fa>av«  his  dead  and  wott!*4ed  to  ^e  mercy  of  his  ene- 
my; general  sir  George  Pre^f^stiieued  an  oifebl  account 
to  the  people  of  Canada,  and  forwarded  despatches  to 


wtor  ol  the 
[ladefeverjr 
jr  ksitwas 
'ation,  ij^d 
he  Pert  ^^ 
wbieb  was 
Talmaiiidf 
loard^i  vhe 
h  was  then 
der  in  her 
from  imder 

iritish  com- 
^noj  which 
&ileCr«»«k. 
andioF'the 
jreaii^torily 
n  on  -  day, 
I  ccpmaiHi 
etiieaitlbg  to 
riitipatenb 
llnuiSily  ex- 
on  topak^ 

der  the  ad- 
»i%for6^  not 
Ai^  'aW  Te- 
^uestftbat 
btttrented 
.^facteEj 


rtherjprose- 
'object  the 
«nt  pwses- 
la  dny  i\  pe 
Mmnk  sue- 
carceij'  de- 
obl^*ea,  by 
lit  Sravery 
reeicitately 
ef  hia  ene- 
sili  account 
(patches  to 


/^ 


W  f  HE'  LAIC*  ^*Wll^  ^-  • 


his  govemment,  kteac^  of  which  he  hud  claim  to  a  hi^ 
liant  and  niipittiiUieled  vktJMyi  and  alleged  that  he  hip 
reluctantty  Wdeii$d  his  trOio^  to  leate  a  beaten  ene^y, 
whom  he  haddil^tt  before ium for 0wee hours, becanse 
the  co-operation  of  tiie  ^eel  #nd  armir  could  not  be  ef- 
fected. Gentfriil  BrowiiV  i^tagtem  bad  so  hr  succeed^ 
cd  in  decifeivipi^  him,  tliit  he  reported  the  woods  to  have 
been  filled  wimin^try  and  field  piecei,  from  which  an 
incessant,  heavy  and  destructive  fice  had  b<  m  kept  up, 
by  a  numerous  JHid  almost  invisible  foe ;  more  than  quad- 
ruple in  numbers  to  tiie  detachments  which  had  been  taken 
from  the  garrison  of  Kingston;  and  that  his  loss  was  ne- 
vertheless very  far  inferior  to  ^at  of  ^s  antagonist.  Pri- 
vate letters,  however,  which  were,  about  the  same  time, 
written  from  officers  of  these  detachments,  after  relating 
that  colonel  Gray  and  two  other  officers  had  been  ^  illeu, 
and  t'  at  fmyors  Evans,  Brummion^,  and  Moodie,  and  se- 
veral captainaand  subalterns  had  been- wounded,  admit- 
ted that  their  total  loss  anOmnted  to  ^ivards  of  150. 

Had  the  result  df  the  expedi^oft  i^nat  8acket^s  Hai^ 
bour»  been  of  that  character  0f  4inparalleled[  brilliancy, 
winch  wc«jld  have  entitled  it  to  the  encomiums  of  its 
commander,^  and  to  the  warmest  adtuira^n  of  the  Brit- 
ish nation,  its  eflects  wpuld  have  been  long  and  deplo- 
rably felt  by  the  American  governine&t.  Imtnense  quan- 
titiea  of  naval  and  ittitltarratores,  which  had  been  from 
time  to  time  collected  at  tnat  depot;  the  frames  and  tim- 
btsrs  which  had  been  prepared  for  thus  construction  of  ves- 
«eb  of  war,  and  the  ri&ginfi;  and  armaments  which  had 
been  forwarded  thither  tor  their  final  equipment;  as  well 
as  all  the  army  ciothin«^,  camp  equipage,  provisions,  am- 
munition, and  implements  of  ^t^nr,  which  had  been  pre- 
^dou^y  captored  from  Ihe  enemy,  would  hav^  &llen  into 
hi»^hands.  The  destruction  of  uie  batteries,  the  sttip  then 
on  the  stocks,  the  extensive  canttonmeuts,  and  the  public 
arsenal,  would  have  retarded  the  bi^l^^  of  another  naval 
foFoe,  and  that  whicli  vmt  tdreadyon  tfaS  lake  in  separate 
detadiments,  coukl  have  been  intercepted,  in  its  attaint 
toretorn,  and  might  hftve  been  c&ptured  in  detail.  The 
priz«  vessel  whieh  was  then  kying  in  the  haiiMin',  and 
which  had  been  taken  by  the  Americans,  and  the  two 
United  Sta)tos^achoe.ier8,  would  hav3  been  certainly  re- 
captured, and  the  whole  energies  of  the  Americap  gov- 


149 


HiSTHiUCAI.  8|L£9^C»^9 


ennnentt  ad^  la  ^am  n^st  vig^foitt  mi  iin^tearied 
t^mgi^eB,  o%lit  never  «0ttii^«^^i^^  msf^prospect 
of  mi  asf^enfleacy  onthe  We*  ^  A«  it  froired,  tiowe^er,  all 
these  inpieiadiiig  eT9ft  were  metiei^iVt^/^^^^i^^^  ef 
^  poHUBftiidi^  officer^  aad  ike  mmiakih  foB«iet»  of 
those  «f  hi»  troops,  who  withstood  the  In'iiiti  of  the  action^ 
converted  that  event  mto  a  ^j^ndid  vietm-y^  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  an  irretrievable  ^H^ter. 


CHAFTEB  X. 


tiBtifnsfr<mi^  command  i^UtsJfm^ 
em  fminyf^Commtmdof  JS'ort  0e9nfe  demises  m  g» 

timtf  Sedu^'r^JHtea^  to  Umd  at  Osweg^^^-Ajfmit  at 
BeamrJkm&^JISsetipe  of,Mie  m^^Mfi,  prisoners  /rom 
tht  k£fldoithsiak»-'^u98mtei^^  lieuUntmtMldtridgft 
ajtf^-^  ^Btween  ^  |NlM  /wJWs  §md  vm'm  Com* 
trUUh  mmn  aUaok  JEUacf^  Moeh^^-Ckiptuim 
.  ^  tm  ^smrnffs  ^gmioa^r^ort  0$orge  moeated^^-tim* 
rifian  m^^9  attackkidm>,SBeimd  ^aopodiUoH  to  Wovk^^ 
MtiUsh  coftmf^^fh^&romi^ 

plain  isiU^g^  imdde^oy  Uie  prkjiaitB  housMr^ham 
of  iht  BriHahJkit  on  lake  Qntiitip-'''iMncanifmewt  at 
Fort  GeorgefOndrtOrpotsewion  of  ^flBtoark  %  the,  ane- 
my — Bb  retire$  to  ni8  mti'!en^mmt$^'CaiAifre  of-  a 
Mritish  q/icer,  bjf  aHsifom^iiin  mttimiL 

.  TtiE  increasiog  indispoiltipn  of  «eiieral  Peaii>om 
hvinng  rendered  him  im^t  £m*  active  duty,  he  fesi^sned 
thecKMnmand  of  the  northern  armj^^  and  rehired  io  his  re» 
aidenix.  General  l4awi8.hAd  repaiired  to  Sacket^  Haf^ 
jbouf ,  to  act  in  concert  with  eonMDOdiire  Chatmoey*  who 
had  r^jraed  to  that  nlacor  wd  was  imdLit^  active  pi«*» 
naratioBS  te  restore  the  Wtteiies  liid  bciUduigs  to  tiMHr 
former  €OiiditiD%  The  coaunMid  <sf  iort  Qeer|e«  aad  the 
dependencies  of  that  place  and  fort  Niagara,  devoured  om 
l^nd  Boyd*^ 


01*  imm  %JL^PB  Wiuu 


^  On  the  14th  of  J^ive  (^|9iaX  li«iiteiiaiit€hftHii^  ma 
oidci«d' ta  |ir«&eed'iii  Ihft  Lo&y  of  ^  Iddce;  to  einw  off 
FresquimalU,  and  to  intercept  ^  enemy's  tramlport  ves- 
sels. On  tho  Mthi  he  M  ill  wiili  and  ^^^^Hb/bWAt- 
ish  schooner  t^  Ididy  BittiTmT,<thea>^iind  ©nnt  K^j^ten 
to  ¥ock«  "irithftii  BaMiaii^lttgni  Mid  1#  noi^onnan^OB* 
ed  olBeelt  oHd  piiii&fk  r^he  v^  loafded  id#i  pro^iitii^ 
aowder^  ^0^  inid  #ied  BMmimitiOB^  j0id  uraa  hrett^ 
mtoSocket^s  Harbour  on  the  IBth^  |ier  crew  coi»is^ 
of  6  moBk  ^ 

On^  the  same  day,  the  Bri^sh  ficet  aj^peared  before  the 
to\m  of  »Sodu8,  on  a  bay  of  that  name,  widch  ia  formed 
on  the  American  side  of  lake  Ontario,  between  Oennesi* 
^aee  and  Oswego  rivers.    General  Burnet  of  the  New 
York  mtlitia^  suspecting  that  they  intended  to  land  their 
troops,  and  capture  a  quantity  of  provisions,  ordered  out 
4  vegteitit  from  the  county  or  Onta^      The  militti  col- 
lected in  gr^t  haste^  and  arrived  at  Sodus  on  the  follow- 
ing moinlng.    But  the  enemy;;  well  knowing  ^t  his  ap- 
pearance would  excite  the  alarm  of  the  inhamtants,  drew 
off  ltts:£»rce»un^  their  apprehen^eni  ahotdd  be  subsided, 
and  re^ippeared^n  the  eveidnw  <tf  the  19th,  a  few  lK>ttrs 
after  the^  militia  had  been  disohiyved.    In  contemplation 
(^  his  return,  the  inhabitants  hao^  removed  all  tbs  public 
stores  from  the  buildiiags -on  the  water's  e^i  to  a  small 
distance  in  the  woods(,  and  on  the  re-appeanmce  of  the 
liostiie  squadron,  a  second  alarm  was  immediately  given, 
and  ei^ress^  sent  after  the  discharged  militli^  wl^h 
overtook  and  broujght^em  back,  with  a  lar^  reinforce- 
^ment    Before  l^eir  return,  the  enemy  had  landed,  and 
finding  that  the  provisions  had  been  removed,  they  set 
fire  to  all  the  valuable  builc^ngs  in  the  town,  and  destroy- 
ed most  of  the  private  property  of  every  description^— 
They  then  agreed  to  stipulate  with  the  inhalntants^to  de- 
sist from  destroying  the  remaining  houses  on  condition 
of  dieir  surrendering  the  flour  a^d  provisions,  whioh  th^ 
knew  had  been  deposited  at  that  jplace.    These  articles 
were  then  not  more  than  200^  yards  from  the  village,  yet 
the  enemy  did  not  choose  to  attempt  their  capture,  lest 
he  might  be  drawn  into  an  ambuscade;  but  he  thr^iten- 
ed  the  entire  destruction  of  every  house  in  the  town,  if 
they  were  nut  immediately  delivered  over  to  him.    The 
appearance  of  the  militia,  prevented  the  executioi^  of 

N2 


^■p 


w 


ISO  H|»f  OmCUU^  SKE^CHiES 

(Mt  tiiRtfuti  #iid  the  ^liiiny  Immediiiitdj  returned  4o  his 
ftbipplagi  mid  moyed'up  tm  lake  en  the  following  morp* 


^e  J26tb  (June),  the  whole  fleet  ap^roacked  Os<- 
w^,4iad  nittde  sevemi  atteaMt^  td'kiiid  their  treopa,  but 
4iM^  l^tiifbed  each  time  to^taelp  «hif|>iiig»  upotf  ^seeiag 
thfitlbe  troopa  at  thai  place  i«wre  prepareq^to  etieaitliQiii. 
Ilbe  AiB«^€aa  ^nxe  atlhat  #nie,  eonspted  of  QOOanlitia, 
aaid  a  j^uUMigrof  pegulaiv,  under  eemiiiiaid  of  lte«i^ 
tenant  cokm^l  Carr,  bf  whose  skilful  management,  the 
eHemy  were  persuaded  that  the  post  was  .giuriaoned  by 
a  numerous  bod  j  of  troops,  and  they  became  extretoely 
cautiotts  in  tiieif  operatimis.  ^  Fearful  of  being  everpow- 
«i)Od,  they  retinquished  their  intention  of  limdin^  and 
witfidrew  ih>m  before  the  place^  Lieutenant  Woelsey, 
of  theOndda,  and  other  naval  officers  andseain^ii,  were 
at  OswegOj  mA  had  previously  remoii^  the  stores  from 
t^tphice  to  Sackefa  Harbour.  The  fleet  ilien  proceed- 
ed to  the  .'beighbottrhood  of  fertGeorge,  where  it  lay  for 
several  dajis,  .         •  ■  ^  f 

,  A  few  days  ^previously  to  ^  departuie  of  g^eral 
Bearborn  from  that  post,  a  body  of  tne  en^ny  had  col^ 
lected  on  ft  hi^  grouadyv  about  eight  miles  from  Queens- 
town^  for  tlte  purpose  of  proeuring  supplies,  and  ^i  ha^ 
rassine  those  inhabitants  who  were  cornered  to  be 
friendly  t»  the  United  States.  On  4he  128tb,  a  party  of 
troops,  consisting  of  dOGinfontryy  a  scpiadron  of  dragoons, 
a  company  (^  New  York  mounted  volunteers,  and  cap- 
tain ftrDoweU's  corps  of  light  artillery,  being  in  all  About 
600  men^  under  command  of  colonel  Bcerst&i*,  were  de- 
tstched  from  the  American  <Bncam|mienty  at  fwt  Oeorgei 
tbriliepitrpose  of  cutting  elf  the  supplies  of  the  «iemy, 
and  of  breaking  up  their  encampment  at  the  Beaver 
Dams.  The  Bntisn  force  which  was  stationed  there, 
was  composed  of  one  comnany  of  the  I04th  regiment, 
about  SOO  militia,  and  60  Indians,  amounting  to  340  men. 
At  about  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  thed4th,  Smiles 
west  of  Queenstown,  the  American  detachment' was  at^ 
taclied  from  an  ambuscade.  The  action  commenced 
with  the  dragoons,  who  were  placed  in  the  rear.  C^ap- 
taiBs  Machesney  and  Roaches  companies  of  infantiy, 
#ere  instantiy  brought  into  a  portion  to  return  the  ene- 
m§*9  in  to  advantage,  and  very  soon  after  drove  them 


i.  4o  his 
gmoipr 

lied  08<- 

Opgybttt 

of  Iteu^ 
ent,  the 

^etiieljr 
verpow- 
n^  and 
Voolsey, 
en,  w^re 
es  fpfNiii 
iroc^d- 
t  lay  lor 

.•   ■<      :■ 

bad  Golr 
Que^hs- 

to  be 
yof 

118, 

cap- 

de- 
leorgei 
l^my. 


miles 

ms  at' 

lenced 

CJap- 

itiy, 

ene- 

ikem 


'  tm  rmm  u^'TM  yrAM^M 


%m 


AC(m&ideraiyedi9taiice  into  the  i«w)dB.^^T^ 
made  a  eii«uit<Mis  msht  a^^enre^in  (wi,  and  oftsm^tL 
&ee  u^n  the  mounted  riflemen  who  were  stationed  there. 
They  w^«  iiiimediu^y  i#iil«iNl»«tnd  i^^  t»  Ihe 

ivoods.  EyeK|r  a^mpt  waa  llii^  msde  J^iAmw  th^  intp 
the  opeii  g;v«MUi4>^biit  wi#)Qiite^  A  Jew  of  ^e  boldest 
of  tbem#  ^ntoref^froni  Hieir  ltt^[in|^{kbice%  bi^xW 
medliytety  compelled  to  fty.  to  them  ngpkin  for  sbditep.  1^ 
en^ny^s  force  was  now  oontinumlj JWgmeiiling,  w 
was  every:  instant  ^dtikte  ac  jNipeitority.  ^  A  retreat  was 
then  ordered  for  a  short  aistance,whicb  was  effected  with 
U^i^  loss, 

f^f  Colonel  B<Brstler«,.t^]kea  suspecting  tilat  be  w^Sr^ur- 
rounded  by  a  very  superior  and*  numeroiia  force,  diespatch- 
ed  an  expresA.  io  general  Dearboni  fpiv  mnforcements, 
and  informed  him  of  his  intesitien  to  ipaintaia  his  posi- 
tion until  they  should  arriTe«  Coloniel  Christie  was  or- 
dered to  proceed  immediately  with  the*  15th  regiment, 
and  a  company  of-artille^y^  to  the  #ipport  of  c<]^nel 
Boerstler ;  but  he  had  not  proceeded  %rmer  tiian  Queens- 
tovm,  when  he  waa  Infonned  that  tiicl  latter  had  surren- 
dered Ins  detachment 

The  express  had  scarcely  been  Ibrwarde^,  when  lieu- 
tenant FitzgibboQ*  who  comm^ided  #ie  Bi^tish  miUtia 
and  Indians,  rode' up  to  colonel  Bcerstler,  with^  flag^  and 
-pformed  himj,  on  the  honour  of  a  British  soldier,  ll^t  the 
regular  force,  commanded  by  lieutenant  colfmel  Bishop, 
was  double  that  of  tlie  Americans,  and  that  the  Indians 
were  at  least  70Q  iii^  number.  Colonel  Bosrstler,  tsiistmg 
to  the  veracity  of  tlie  officer ;  fearing  the  impracticability 
of  escaping;  and  being  unwilUng  to  abandon  his  wound- 
ed, agreed  to  terms  of  capitulation,  by  which  the  wounded 
«were  to  be  treated  with  the  utmost  tenderness,  the  offi- 
cers to  be  permitted  to  wear  their  side  arms,  private  oro- 
perty  to  be  respected,  and  the  volunteers  to  oe  panHed, 
and  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes. 

Lieutenant  colonel  Bishop  was  not  on  the  ground  at 
the  time  when  this  capitulation  was  effected,  as  the  Bri- 
tish lieutenant  had  asserted  on  his  honour,  but  arrived 
there  in  time  to  Confirm  the  articles  of  surrender.  These 
.were  no  sooner  agreed  upon,  than  they  were  violated;  tiie 
officers  being  deprived  or  their  side  arms  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  the  Inctos,  who  robbed  them  also  of  their  coats, 


15S 


HIftT«BiOAI.  SKKTCHES 


and  i9iiiat«¥ee-omanieitts  df  dfess  they  coveted.  Ko  potf> 
sible  account  of  the  namher  of  killed  or  woofiaed*  on 
^iher  side  could  be  olftai&ed*  Colon^  Bceratler  was 
slightljr  w^undi^i  and  <i«^4w^Mt/heftiieVrof  the  dtli.  sftr 
Yerelv^ig  rM^aig  the«tliiii:iaf1iiiQ^^  ^ 

Cfttoti^  Cli^atie  retorned  to  fbrt  Gtocge,  w^uilbrin»> 
lapin  ortlifa  (Bsaster^^^^^^^  ^e  tilri^di  laoved  dawn  iipon 
t^eensl^wii^eecti!^^  iNit  fdi^e  aiid  ila  ntaigdii0mim0d, 
«id  in.|i  Ibw  days  alterwavds  iitirested  the  ADueikim 
catnpi  haying  becoi  pt«ev|oiislyrjoked  by  fdlth^  forces 
fitHii  the  hoMl^af  the  lake» 

General  Vincent  was.  stationed  at  BiirUngtoii  Hei|hts» 
with  a  small-  force,  mi  senerat  Be  Bottenhui^  lay  en- 
cainped  at  the  Ten  Mile  Creek, 

iSmd  Mew  York  mounted  volunteers  were  detained  at 
the  head  nf  the  Ifdie,  In  violation  of  the  ar^cle  which  pro- 
vided f^ur  their  parole.  On  the  ISth  (JulyX  theywere  ordered 
to  Kinsston,  to  be ~kept. there  as  prisoners  of  war«  l%ey 
were  for  tliis  purpose  emharkea  iir  two  bei^  under  a 
guard  of  pien,  and  a  lieutenant  When  within  12  tiiiles 
of  York,  they nise  upon  the  guard,  and  after  a  struggle  of 
a  few  minutes,  ^carried  boith  m>ats,  and  shaped  thdir  course 
for  fort  Kiag^a.  After  rowing  nearly  all  nighti  uid  es- 
ci^ung  from^an^^  enemy's  schooner  wi^  £reat  diffieult^, 
tiiey  arrived  safely  witii  their  prisoners,  m  effecting  this 
danng  escapei.  major  Chapin,  who  commanded  the  volun- 
teers, gave  the  ^gnal  to  his  men,  by  knocking  down  the 
British  lieutenant,  and  personally  encountering  two  of  his 
soldiers,  whom  he  fortunately  subdued,  and  kept  in  re- 
straint until  the  second  boat  fay  along  side  of  him* 

Subsequentiy  to  the  event  at  Beaver  Dams,  several  afr 
fairs  of  outposts  took  place,  which,  though  not  quite  so  im- 
portant in  their  consequences,  were  e(|wally  as  brilliant  as 
any  of  the  occurrences,  which  had  previously  ^ransmred  on 
the  Niagara  frontier.  Among  them  was  a  severe  skirmish, 
brou^t  on  by  an  attack  which  had  been  madeupcm  two  of 
the  outposts  of  the  American  encampment  at  fbrtOeoi^, 
'on  the  8th  of  July,  by  the  combined  force  of  the  British 
and  Indians.  It  had  no  sooner  commenced,  than  adjutant 
lieutenant  Eldridge  of  the  13th,  was  ordered  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  outposts,  with  a  small  detachment  of  39  men: 
whilst  a  laiger  body  was  preparing  to  follow  him,  under 
the  command  of  major  Malcolm.    The  impetuosity  of 


»  OF  THE  I.AT£  WAlU 


153 


lieutenant  Eidfidge  led  iuni<'Uito  ai  thick  woiMi^jiirbere  a 
superior  force  df  theBriiifth^'imd'liidiwis  lay  in  anibnsbj 
and  f^flier  an  obstinate,  but  fruitliSsts  struggle*  his.p^y 
were  ^ntireljr  defeated,  five  only  but  of  the  whole  numbi.- 
escaping;  thirteen  were  killed  or  Wounded,  and  the  re- 
mainder taken  prisonerg^  At  the  lirst  ontet,  Ihe  enemy 
waa  refMilsad?  but  at  &^  second;  he  pressed  upon  and, 
surrounded  the  little  partj,  witli  the  Wtiole  of  his  nume- 
rous force.  All  the  prisoners,  jncludiiig  ^e  Wounded, 
were  then  inhumanly  murdered,  and  thdr  persons  treat- 
ed in  so  baFbarous  k  manner,  that  the  most  temperate  re- 
cital of  the  enemy's  conduct  may,  perhaps,  scarcely  ob- 
tain belief.  The  leelmga  of  the  nM>0t  obdurate  reader,  of 
a  much  mor^  distant  period,  caqnot  but  be  ex<iited.to  the 
highest  degree  of  indignation,  and  those  of  the  writer  are 
not  at  all  to  be  envied,  when  teecessity  obliges  him  to  de- 
scribe the  sufferings  of  his  countr^rmen,  br  the  relation  of 
facts  which  stand'  too  well  authenticated  oefbre  him.  The 
same  enemy  who  had  not  kii^  ago  In^ored  the  mercy 
of  theu  American  fiffieer  t4»  be  extended  to  his  Britidh 
prisoner^  nowMI  upon  the  defenceless  captives  of  this 
pas^,  and  scalped  iheir  heads  wMlst  they  were  yet  alive, 
split  open  tiieir  skulls  with  their  tomhawks,  tore  theif 
heartci  out  of  thetr  bodies,  and,  stabbed  and  otherwise  mii*> 
tilated  them*  Iiiei|t<inant  fiblridge  was  sump^Mtd  to  have 
eiperienced  the  same  trea^ent  The  inhatatants  of  ihe 
n^ghbourhood,.hayin{;  informed  the  garrison  that  he  had 
been  led  wounded  into  the  wo<^,  l^tweeii  two  Indiana, 
a  ikg  was  sent  out  on  the  next  day,  to  ascertain  hb  fate  i 
whicn  soon  after  returned,  with  an  answer,  that  lieute- 
nant E^ridge,  having  ,kUled  one  of  the  India!  chiefbdns, 
the  w&i^oro  of  his  tnbe  had  retaliated  this  supposed  act 
of  traiush«7>  by  putting  him  to  instant  deaths  But  ttua 
reply  was  ascertained  to  have  been  a  aubteffiM^of  t^ 
enemy^  to  evade  the  necessity  of  accounting  &r  a  pri^> 
soner^'who  was  kmwn  to  have  been  takjen  aHve. 

The  comniiseioiL  of  thisi  and  odheif^  outrages  of  theMlB 
nature,  by  thi^  ^lemy,  at  length  ipdueed  the  Americaa 
commander,  genepai' Boyd^  to  recewe  a  paity  of  the)6i> 
nem  and  tFtiseiipara  trmes  Into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  by  wa^  of  «»ttmidatlng  the  British  and  indiana, 
and«f  ppe^entingft  reeuitence  of  their  barbarities.  Shoi^ 
ly  aftep  they  ^ad  lendezvoused  at  fi^  Cifeoige,  and  had 


154 


Ul8T<miCAli  SSKTCfifiS 


covenantld  not  to  seial|i  or  murder  any  of  the  enemy's  {tti- 
soners  who  niiKht  iatl  into^  their  hin^,  they  W«r6  joined 
to  a  fMiHy  of  vmunteers^  and  sent  to  cot  (iff  one  of  mt  out- 
posts 6f  the  enemy,  whose  principdi  encampment  was  up- 
warda  of  two  miles  from  the  fort  llie  American  Indians 
were  commanded  by  major  Henry  (VBall,  or  F/mf^Ct^ft- 
pltfit^,  whosttcceeded  ^  capthiring  and  bringine  iflf*lS 
of  the  British  Indians,  and  4  of  their  white  troops,  with  a 
loss  of  only  3  Indians  killed.  -  •> 

7^  army  atibrt  Gedrge  wis  at  this  time  in  a  state  of 
inactivity;  a  war  of  outposts  only  bieing  carried  on,  which, 
though  resulting  in  vanoiis  success,  was  of  use  to  the  un- 
disciplined divisions  of  the  encampment. 

Oh  Ihe  momiuj^of  the  11th  July,  a  British  regular 
force  crossed  the  !NiagarabeloMr  Black  Rock,  and  moved 
u|^  with  great  rapidity,  to  the  attack  of  th«t  podt^  The 
militia  who  were  stationed  there,  immediately  lied  in  con- 
siderable numbers;  a  few  of  them,  however,  stood  their 
f round,  and  im^erging  from  a  wood,  at  aeventy  yards 
istance  from  the  enemy,  annoyed  hmi  very  severely.  >- 
Ibat  this  annoyance  was  not  regarded  by  the  British,  who 
entered  the  place,  set  ^re  to  the  barracks,  the  block 
house  and  otiier  toiliUngs,  spflced  several  pieces  of  can- 
non, and  took  off  a  quantity  of  provisions.  Whilst  car- 
rying the  pn^fty  to  their  boats,  th^  were  attacked 
t:^  a  force  of  regulars,  militia,  and  a  few  'Indians,  who 
poured  upon  them  a  very  destructive  fire.  Tlie  enem}^s 
loree  amounted  to  250  men,  nine  6f  whom,  and  a  captain 
(Saunders)  of  the  4t8t,were  left  upon  the  shore  The 
force  which  was  brought  against  them,  was  precisely 
eqwal  id  their  own.  They  reared  partially  to  their  boats, 
and  in  putting  off  from  ttie  shore,  lost  upwards  of  SO  in 
killed^and  wounded^:  Amdi^^  the  latter,  was  lieutenant 
colonel  Bishcm^  mortaily; 

0n  ihe  Iftnt  small  expedition  of  volunteers,  and  about 
40  sohliers,  lefifert" 6eOr^  in  two  smaR  row  boats^  pro- 
^eoied  to  the  head  of  ^'@t^  Lawrence^  and  captured  a 
f»t  boat  mounth^  <me  S4  poiuider,  1^  bi^teaux  4oaded 
irith  property,  imd  4  officers  ai^ 

On  ^  same  day^anbutwork  of  the  American  §arriion, 
^as  attadiod  by  200  British  and  some  Indians^  Gokmel 
BetAt  was  sefl^  out  to  oppose  them.  He  took  one  field- 
piece  into  an  open  field,  and  assisted  by  lieutenant  Shnitln 


Of  TIDR  X.ATE  WA1I» 


t»$ 


e  <tf  me  oat* 
eM  was  up- 
can  Inciians 

ttgine  ifl^*12 
dops,  with  a 

n  a  state  »f 
d  on,  which, 
e  to  the  un- 

tifith  regular 
and  moved 

Soit^    The 
ed  in  con- 
stood  ^eir 
lyenty  yardd 
severely.— 
British,  who 
I,  the  block 
sees  of  can- 
Whilst  car- 
re  attacked 
idians,  who 
le  enemy's 
id  a  captaih 
there     The 
8  precisely 
theiir  boats, 
s  of  50  in 
lieutenant 

»,  and  about 
boats^pro- 
captured  a 
iaux-loaded 

\Xk  j^Arfiiofl, 

Cokmel 

one  4dld- 

UHit  SmitlH 


• 

after  a  content  ^f  wm  bMlr,  succeeded  in  drinj^  qS  the 
enemy.  Majors  Atmstrong^  Cinnmiiigs,  captaiSs  Tow* 
son^  Ma!dK8Qn^ Vandfdsem^  aiid  BMsallrtm  fmnef  ef 
whom  was  wounded.  Were  alsQ  actively  engaged.  Hie 
Americafi  less  amounted  t»  four>  killed,  and  j»  manjit^ 
wounded.  ^ 

Besides  lb«  militia*  under  mtyor  C^apin/  who  had  been 
captured^  at  the  Beaver  JDams^  sew;p»l  parties-  of  regolarti 
made  ,i>riso)iers  at  the  8|unep|iu:e,<dsor  effected  tiSir  es- 
capei  in  consequencie  of  the  refosalof  the  enemy  to  m» 
poie  them.  On  the  i^rtln  a  Im^  boat  airrive^.  at  wt 
George,  ud<lk4^UeuteQant  and  &  Canadian,  mifitii^  who 
had  been  taken  by  d  UnHed  State*  reguliuri^  ^  i  New 
York  mil:itiainen,iis  Hie  former  Wffl?e  o^iducting  them  to 
Klo^to|k«  About  the  same  time»  ik  boat  .with  14of  co|*« 
nel  fioerstler's.  men,  and  2  of  the  enemy,  nr^edifrom 
Ym'k.  They  communieated  intelli^ience  of  ^e  severs^ 
treatment  which  the  American^  prtsiMieies  eKperienced 
t^ei^  and  ^general  Bo^  and  comiliodinre  Chtttti^Gey  d% 
t»*3»uied  on&n  ex|)efE^on,tQ.that4^  >: 

'i)n  /the  38th  commtklorev^haiui^  sailed  wi^4i  o^@d^ 
Scott  and  atM>ut  dOO  men4  They  landed-  at  York,  c«^ 
tared  or  d^troyed  the  public  propel^y  imdstf ires  f^/tne 
enemy*  and  after  barAiiiff  tlm .  bflmck8,.vwh|^  Had  beeQ, 
spared  at  the  capture  of  uiat  place  in  A^tpli,  apder  l^l  im^ 
pression  ^t  their  liberality,  would  be  <ippreciated  by  .^ 
enemy>  the^re-^barked,  imd  returned  luaiiolested  to  fort 
George,  bnnging  with  th^  att  the  sick  aiid  wounded  of 
colonel  Bcerstler's  men,  wlimn  th^  oould  find. 

A  few  weeks  v^ece^ng  ttiis  affidr  the  Umted  States 
armed  vessels  the  Gruwler  and  Ea^e  werecaptured^ai^ 
a  desperate  en^s^ment^  three  lours  and  an  half,  with 
a  nun^er  of  British  gun  boatB»  and  detaebmimts  from  the 
garrison  at  l^h  oupe  Mix»  The  ac^on  tookpliice  near 
Ash-  lelanud,  on  the  river  SefMf,  or  MehdkUiW  that  part 
of  lake.Champlaiii  whieh  empties  tBt6  ^e  St  httyn&kee. 
The  schooners  were  commuraed  by  fieui  Sidney  Sa^ 
and  were  the  only  armed  vessels,  e^ccepting  a  few  |^ 
boats,  Jliid  small  barges;  Which  c^ts^tu^  the  i^ericaii 
naval  I»r6e  on  lake^hampkin.  Tfa^ii;  captui«e  thero^H^ 
a^ve  the  ^i^y  tfi»«]|tite  ascenj(liBiC|r  on  that  Ei^4  The. 
ftitish  ^ted  tb^r  loss  at  3  iif»n  wounded.  The  loss  on 
board  the  schooners  'W9a  1^  kiled  aii4  8  wouiuled.  ,  e    ^  ^^ 


tmmm 


nwratiitkt  si^^rciKs 


J 


m 


jf  6iiw1NIi  «f  mfm^y(!ft^B^ 

Clmofk^  wi<&  iMno  sloops  ftf  war,  llree  giti|  ftitflil,  «ni! 

flli  lilllllli^f^Se^^  i^ef  iltedl^^f  bum      m^etsi 

cc«^  to  tie  l^wtii  6f  liNirt^t^  t0^^ 

abiM  ##8  iriir  s)%^  ^«  W¥l%  l^^ftr^  i 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


157 


tawwMfc  snti 
:  oiiiiiliitopg 


■  •« 


It  ft^iml 


rm  ntnCt- 


night  2  of  ^e  schooners  were  missing,  ^the  Hamilton  and 
Scourge)  both  of  which  had  overset  ana  sunk  in  a  heavy 
squall:  16  men  only  escaped  drowning.    The  fleet  lost 
by  this  unfortunate  accident,  two  exceuent  officers,  lieu- 
tenant Winter  and  sailing  master  Osgood,  a  number  of 
fine  seamen,  and  19  guns;  and  the  enemy  thence  gained 
a  great  superiority.    On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  he  was 
discoverea  bearing  up  with  an  intention  of  bringing  the 
Americans  to  action.      Commodore  Chauncey  uien  di- 
rected the  schooners  to  sweep  up  and  engage  him.  When 
the  van  was  within  one  mile  ana  a  half  of  the  enemy,  he 
bore  up  for  the  schooners  in  order  to  cut  them  oft;  but 
in  this  he  did  not  succeed.    He  then  hauled  his  wind  and 
hove  too.    A  souall  coming  on,  and  commodore  Chaun- 
cey  being  apprenensive  of  separating  from  the  heavy  sail- 
ing schooners,  he  ran  the  squadron  in  towards  Niagara, 
aira  anchored  outside  the  bar.  Here  he  received  on  ward 
from  fort  George   150  soldiers,  and  distributed   them 
through  the  fleet  to  act  as  marines.    Before  12  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  commodore  discovered 
the  enemy's  fleet,  and  stood  for  him,  and.  after  manoeuv- 
ring until  11  o'clock,  at  times  pursuing  him  and  being 
Eursued  by  him,  the  rear  of  the  line  opened  its  fire  on 
im.      In  15  minutes  the  fire  became  general  on  both 
sides.    At  half  past  11,  the  weather  line  bore  up,  and 
passed  to  the  leeward,    except  the  Growler  and  Julia, 
which  soon  after  tacked  to  the  southward,  and  brought 
the  British  between  them  and  the  remainder  of  the  Ame- 
rican fleet,  which  then  edged  away  to  engage  "the  enemy 
to  more  advantage,  and  to  lead  him  from  the  Growler 
and  Julia.    Sir  J.  Yeo  having  separated  the  two  vessels 
from  the  squadron,    exchanged  a  few  shot,    in  passing 
witii  the  General  Pike,   (Commodore  Chauncey's  ship) 
without  injuring  her,  and  pursued  the   schooners.    A 
firing  commenced  between  them,  and  was  continued  un- 
til 1  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  when  the  schoo- 
ners surrendered,  and  the  fleets  lost  sight  of  each  other. 
Soon  after  daylight,  they  again,  became  visible;  but  no 
disposition  being  shown  by  the  enemy  to  come  down  on 
commodore  Chauncey,  he  shortly  after  ran  towards  Sac- 
ket's  Harbour,  to  provision  the  squadron,  and  arrived 
there  on  tlie  13th. 

0. 


' 


158 


UISTaEICAL  SKETCHES 


About  this  time  sir  George  Prevost  joined   the  ar- 
my,  then  investing  fort  George,  and  meditated  an  at- 
tack upon  ^e  American  forces.    Captain  Fitzgerald  of 
the  49tn,  assailed  an  outpost  on  the  Niagara,  and  after 
gaining  the  rear  of  the  guard,  was  fired  on  and  charged 
by  captain  Davenport,  of  the  16th  United  States'  infantry, 
who  cut  his  way  through  Fitzgerald's  party,  rallied  his 
own,  and  made  prisoners  of  10  men.    At  this  moment 
captain  Deleno,  of  the  23d,  came  up  and  captured  Fitz- 
gerald, who  was  then  wounded.    The  whole  line  of  out- 
posts was  at  this  instant  attacked  and  driven  in.  Captain 
Vandalsem,  of  the  15th,  who  commanded  ^e  outpost 
upon  Butler's  road,  was  cut  off  by  the  enemy ;  but  nas- 
tily forming  his  small  party,  he  desperately  forced  his 
way  through  a  superior  body,    and   brou^t  his  guard 
safely  into  the  garrison.    The  Briti^  forces  gainea  pos- 
sessjion  of  the  town  of  Newark,  and  skirted  the  woods  op- 
posite fort  George,  within  gun-shot  of  the  American  camp. 
Brijgadier  general  Williams,  who  had  a  few  days  before 
arrived  at  mat  post,  advanced  from  the  works  with  his 
brigade,  but  after  a  trifling  skirmish,  he  was  ordered 
back  by  general  Boyd,  ana  the  troops  were  directed  to 
act  only  on  the  defensive.    The  British  soon  after  re- 
tired  to  their  intrenchments,  then   about  2  mOes  dis- 
tant.   The  loss  of  the  garrison  on  this  occasion,  amount- 
ed to  30,  in  lulled,  wounded,  and  missing.    The  capture 
of  captain  Fitzgerald  and  his  men  was  the  only  loss 
which  the  enemy  is  known  to  have  sustained. 

Af&irs  of  outpost^j  in  which  the  character  of  Hie  Ame- 
rican arms  was  not  in  the  least  dimimshed,  were  now  oc- 
curring daily.    Colonel  Brearley,  and  other  officers  of  the 
different  regiments,  distinguished  themselves ;  and  a  spi- 
rit of  emulation  pervaded  the  whole  American  line.— Or- 
ders had  been  issued  to  the  sentinels,  to  permit  no  one 
to  pass  within  their  chain,  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
commanding  officer.     But  a  British  officer,  in  passing 
from  the  left  to  the  ri^t  of  his  encampment,  having  by 
mistake  approached  the  American  line,  induced  a  senti- 
nel to  violate  these  orders.    Thomas  Gray,  a  private  of 
the  15th,  who  at  this  time  happened  to  be  on  guard,  seeing 
the  error  into  which  the  enemy's  officer  was  Ukely  to  fall, 
permitted  him  to  enter  the  line  of  sentinels  before  he  chal- 
lenged him,  when  the  officer  immediately  surrendered.  He 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB« 


149 


the  ar- 
id an  at- 
gerald  of 
md  after 
i  chareed 
infanhy, 
allied  his 
\  moment 
ired  Fitz- 
ae  of  out- 
.  Captain 
e  outpost 
;  but  nas- 
ibrced  his 
his  suard 
linetlpos- 
woods  op- 
ican  camp, 
ays  before 
i  with  his 
s  ordered 
[irected  to 
after  re- 
miles  dis- 
amount- 
le  capture 
only  loss 

the  Ame- 
•e  now  oc- 
;ers  of  the 
and  a  spi- 
ine. — Or- 
it  no  one 
ge  of  the 
passing 
aving  by 
a  senti- 
rivate  of 
,  seeing 
ly  to  fall, 
he  chfd- 
lered.  He 


proved  to  be  captain  Gordon,  of  the  Royal  Scots,  and  was 
conducted  to  general  Boyd,  who  afterwards  presented  the 
sentinel  with  a  silver  cup,  engraved  with  inscriptions, 
commemorative  of  the  event  by  which  it  had  been  won.«— 
The  Aitierican  army  sustainedf  about  this  time  a  serious 
loss  in  the  death  of  colonel  Christie,  at  fort  George,  and 
of  lieutenant  colonel  Tuttle,  at  Sacket's  Harbour^-both 
of  whom  died  of  severe  illness. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


The  JVorthwestem  ^rmy'~-Pritish  appear  again  before 
Fort  Mei^s — Defence  of  Fort  Stephensont  Lower  San- 
dusky— Capture  of  the  British  jteet  on  iMke  Erie-^ 
Northwestern  Army  reinforced  from  Kentucky-^Is 
transported  bythe  Jimerican  fleet  to  Canada-'-Capture 
of  Maiden — The  Americans  enter  Sandwich — TiXfSfue 
ike  British  up  La  Tranche—Skirmish  in  Chathamr--' 
Battle  of  the  Thamjes — Dtfeat  and  capture  of  general 
Proctor's  Army-^Escape  of  that  officer— Death  of  T^ 
cumseh—Destrmtion  of  the  town — The  army  sails  for, 
a^d  arrives  at  Bwffdloe, 

The  combination  of  the  British  forces  on  the  Nia- 
gara; the  augmentation  which  they  were  daily  receivii^ 
by  reinforcements  from  the  interior  of  Upper  Canada; 
and  the  rumours  thence  sent  forth,  of  an  intended  coali- 
tion, between  these,  and  the  army  of  general  Proctor,  from 
Detroit ;  all  contributed  to  persuade  the  American  com-, 
manders,  that  the  enemy  had  become  regardless  of  the 
defences  of  the  garrisons  of  Detroit  and  Maiden;  and 
that  their  leading  object,  for  the  accomplishment  of  wkich 
they  had  determmed  to  draw  together  every  species  of 
troops  witHin  the  province,  was  ^e  expulsion  of  tn«  Ame- 
rican forces  from  the  Canadian  territory.  But  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  northwestern 
army,  enabled  him  not  only  to  discover  the  enemy's  reid 
design,  but  ihat  their  regulars  and  a  great  body  of  t^e  ](n- 


n  I 


I 


I 


160 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


dians,  were  at  that  time  concealed  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  forts  Me^  and  Stephenson,  and  feeling  cunfideat  of 
tiieir  expectations  that  the  regulars  of  his  army  would  be 
ordered  forward  to  the  aid  and  co-operation  oi  the  army 
of  tiie  north;  or,  that  the  militia  would  be  called  from  a 
tour  of  duty,  wliich  would  thence  be  deemed  unnecessary 
to  perform;  general  Harrison  extended  his  defensive  ar- 
rai^ments,  and  enlarp;ed  his  forces  by  new  requisitions 
upon  the  governors  of  the  contiguous  state  and  territory. 
He  was  still  engaged  at  his  head  quarters  at  Leneca,  in 
fixing  the  destination  of  the  new  troops,  as  they  arrived, 
and  in  distributing  them  throughout  the  different  posts. — 
Fort  Meigs  was  placed  in  an  excellent  state  for  vigorous 
defence,  and  active  exertions  were  making  to  fortify  fort 
Stephenson.  To  the  entire  equipment  of  the  latter,  many 
difficulties  presented  themselves,  and  its  situation  was 
considered  to  be  so  defenceless,  that  general  Harrison 
directed  the  commandant  to  destroy  the  public  nropertv, 
and  immediately  to  abandon  the  fort,  if  the  enemy  snoutd 
at  any  time  appear  before  it.--— During  the  month  of  July 
(1816),  the  assembled  tribes  of  Indian  warriors,  under 
Tecumseh,  (who  was  reported  to  have  then  r<!ceived  the 
commission  and  emoluments  of  a  iMrisadier  general)  and 
a  considerable  force  of  regulars,  under  general  Pi'octor, 
had  been  well  trained  for  a^\  expedition,  the  cbjeclof 
which  was  to  reduce  fort  Stephenson,  and  thence  io  pro- 
v^eed  to  a  second  investment  of  fort  Meigs.  Tecumseh 
was  despatched  with  2000  warriors  and  a  fev.'  regulars, 
to  make  a  diversion  favourable  to  the  attack  of  Proctor 
and  Dixon,  upon  fort  Stephenson.  He  approached  fort 
Meigs,  and  kept  up>  a  heavy  firing  at  n.  distance,  in  order 
to  persuade  the  garrison  that  an  engigement  had  taken 
place  between  the  Indian  forces  and  a  part  of  general  Har- 
rison's division.  By  ike  arrival  at  fort  Meigs,  of  an  officer 
iV<>in  the  head  quarters,  ikh  scheme  was  fortunately  frus- 
trated; and  Tecamseh  then  approached  the  garrison,  and 
surrounded  it  with  his  whole  force. 

Fr<im  Senev.?  town  scouting  parties  had  been  sent 
out  in  every  direction,  along  the  shores  of  Sandusky 
bay,  wiiii  in<;tructions  to  keep  up  a  continual  commu- 
nication with  the  commander  m  chief.  On  the  morning 
of  the  Ist  of  August,  he  was  informed  of  the  a'^iproach 
of  the  enemy  to  the  mouth  of  the  bay;  fort  Stephen- 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


161 


)ourhood 
fideat  of 
/vould  be 
he  araiy 
d  from  a 
ecessary 
nsivc  ar- 
[liisitions 
territorjT. 
meca,  in 
•  arrived, 
posts.— 
vigorous 
rtify  fort 
er,  many 
tion  was 
Harrison 
wopertv, 
ly  snoufd 
1  of  July 
•s,  under 
eived  the 
iral)  and 
Pi'octor, 
cbject  of 
e  io  pra- 
,mseh 
jregulars. 
Proctor 
Ihed  fort 
|in  order 
id  taken 
Iral  Har- 
oilicer 
ly  frus- 
on,  and 

m  sent 

|,ndusky 

;ommu- 

lorninff 

|>proacn 

tepheiL' 


son,  situated  twenty  miles  above,  evidently  being  their 
object.  Early  in  the  evening,  the  combined  forces,  con- 
sisting of  700  Indians,  under  Dixon,  and  500  regulars 
under  general  Proctor,  who  commanded  in  chief,  appear- 
ed before  the  fort  The  gun  boats,  from  which  they  had 
landed,  were  at  the  same  time  drav/n  up,  to  bear  upon  one 
of  its  angles.  'General  Proctor  immediately  disposed  his 
troops  so  TiS  to  jurronnd  the  gairison,  and  entire' r  to  cut 
oflf  its  retreat.  His  immense  superiority  of  nuuiiers,  en- 
abled hihi  to  invest  it  so  perfectly,  that  the  Ameiican 
troops,  whose  whole  effective  force  did  not  amount  to 
160  men,  had  no  probable  prospect  of  cutting  their  way 
through;  and  major  Croghan,  who  had  been  promoted 
to  ttie  command  of  this  post,  foi  his  gallant  conduct  at 
the  siege  of  fort  Meigs,  having  already  disobeyed  the 
orders  of  the  commander  in  chief,  by  not  destroy ing 
and  abandoning  the  fort,  had  made  arrangements  vo  repel 
an  assault,  by  cutting  a  deep  ditch,  and  hastily  construct- 
ing a  stockaae  work  around  it.  Being  ably  supported  by 
his  officers  and  men,  he  determined  on  defending  the  gar- 
rison, though  he  should  sell  th  ^  life  of  every  soldier.  The 
British  generaF,  liaving  campleted  the  disposition  of  his 
army,  attempted  to  obtain  possession  of  fort  Stephenson 
by  artifice.  He  sent  forward  a  flig  by  colonel  Elliot, 
whose  character  is  yet  in  the  memory  of  the  reader,  ac- 
companied by  the  same  major  Chambers,  who  had  before 
demanded  the  surrender  of  fort  Meigs,  and  an  Indian 
chief,  whose  enmity  to  the  Americans  v'aH  violent  This 
flag  was  met  at  a  few  paces  from  the  ganision.  by  ensign 
Shipp  of  the  iZih,  to  whom  general  Proctor's  demand,  of 
an  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender,  was  delivered, 
and  from  whom  the  enemy  received  major  CrogJian's  an- 
swer, of  a  determination  not  to  yield,  out  with  the  loss 
of  all  his  m{.n-  Colonel  Elliot  then  attempted  to  seduce 
the  ensign  from  his  duty,  by  various  artifices,  whicli  were 
followed  by  a  threatened  slaughter  of  the  garrison,  on 
further  refusal  to  surrender,  riie  young  American  turned 
from  his  apostate  countryman,  Elliot,  with  disgust,  and 
was  immediately  seized  upon  by  the  Indian  chief,  who 
attempted  to  disarm  him.  The  resistance  of  the  ensign, 
and  the  interference  of  Elli«t  and  Chambei-s,  prevented 
this  outrage,  and  major  Croglian  being  apptehensive  abaut 
the  safety  of  his  officer,  instantly  ordered  him  to  be  called 

0  2 


ii^ 


i 


i 


}■  'Hi 
It 


162 


UlSTOTHtkh  SKETCHES 


into  the  garrison.  The  enemy  then  opened  his  fire  from 
the  pn  Doats,  and  a  five  and  a  half  inch  howitzer,  and 
continued  the  cannonade  throughout  the  niriit.  On  the 
morning  of  the  2d,  three  6-pounders  were  discovered  to 
have  been  planted  at  a  distance  of  250  yards  from  the 
stockade,  and  in  a  few  mmutes  after,  an  urisoccessfiil 
fire  was  opened  upon  the  foi  t.  The  British  general  feel- 
ing his  inability  to  annoy  the  garrison;  from  me  situation 
in  which  his  artillery  was  then  placed,  and  be^ng  con- 
vinced that  he  could  neither  make  an  impression  ujpon 
the  works,  nor  ever  hope  to  carry  them  by  storm,  unless 
a  breach  could  be  made  in  the  northwest  angle  of  the  fort, 
ordered  all  his  guns  to  be  directed  at  that  point.  A  rapid 
fire  was  kept  up  against  it  for  several  hours;  but  major 
Croghan,  being  aware  of  his  design,  detached  as  many 
men  as  could  be  usefully  employed,  to  strengtfien  that 
angle:  by  means  of  bags  of  sand,  of  flour,  and  other  arti- 
cles, it  was  effectually  secured.  Under  a  supposition  that 
his  fire  had  shattered  the  stockade  work,  wnich  was  not 
at  all  injured,  general  Proctor  ordered  lieutenant  colonel 
Short  to  lead  up  a  close  column  of  350  regulars,  of  the 
41st  regiment,  to  storm  the  fort  at  that  point,  whilst  a 
second  column  should  make  a  feint  upon  that  part  of  the 
American  line,  which  was  commanded  by  captain  Hunter, 
of  the  17th.  This  attempt  to  draw  the  attention  of  the 
garrison  from  the  northwest  angle  did  not  succeed.  The 
troops  posted  there  were  ordered  to  remain  firm:  and, 
when  the  column,  which  was  advancing  against  them,  had 
approached  within  20  paces  of  tlie  lines,  before  which 
time  it  was  so  completely  enveloped  in  smoke  as  not  to  be 
observed,  they  opened  a  heavy  and  galling  fire,  threw  the 
advancing  party  in  confusion,  and  intimi&ted  that  which 
was  reserved  for  the  attack  on  the  other  angle  of  the  fort. 
ITie  British  battery,  wliich  was  then  enlarged  bv  two  other 
6-pounders,  was  a^in  opened,  dnd  sustained  the  advance 
of  the  two  columns,  by  an  incessant,  though  equally  un- 
successful fire  as  the  former.  Colonel  Short  rallying  his 
men  with  great  alacrity,  again  led  them  up,  advanced  to 
the  stockad»^,  and  springing  over  the  pickets  into  the 
ditch,  commander*  tlie  whole  column  to  follow,  and  assault 
the  works  with  the  utmost  ^^ur,  but  to  give  no  qitarter 
to  any  of  the  American  soldiers. 

At  the  northwestern  angle  stood  a  block-house,  m 


OT  THB  XATE  WAR. 


163 


sfrom 
',  and 
In  the 
red  to 
m  the 
^essful 
il  feelp 
:aation 
g  con- 
n  upon 
unless 
lie  fort, 
i.  rapid 
t  major 
i  many 
en  that 
er  arti- 
on  that 
vas  not 
colonel 
,  of  the 
bs^hilst  a 
:  of  the 
iunter, 
of  the 
.   The 
and, 
m,  had 
J  which 
3t  to  be 
ew  the 
which 
the  fort, 
o  other 
Ivance 
Lily  un- 
Ing  his 
iced  to 
Ho  the 
issault 
\uarter 

Ise,  ift- 


i: 


wlttcli  a  6-pounder  had  been  heretofore  judiciously  con- 
cealed. It  was  at  this  instant  opened,  and  having  previ- 
ously been  pointed  so  as  to  rp'  'n  that  situation,  a  dou- 
ble charge  of  leaden  slugs  was  1  into  the  ditch,  and 
sweepings  the  whole  column,  the  kiontx>f  which  was  only 
thirty  feet  distant  from  the  pieces  killed  colonel  Short,  and 
almost  every  man  who  haa  ventured  to  obey  his  order. 
A  volley  of  musketry  was  fired  at  the  same  time,  and 
great  numbers  of  the  enemy  who  had  not  yet  entered 
me  ditch,  were  severely  wounded.  The  officer  who  suc- 
ceeded colonel  Short  in  the  command  of  the  broken  co- 
lumn, immediately  rallied  and  formed  it  anew,  and  led  it 
on  to  the  same  fatal  point.  A  second  fire  from  the  de- 
structive 6-pounder,  was  poured  upon  it  with  as  much 
suc(^s  as  tne  first;  and  the  small  arms  were  discharged 
so  briskly,  that  the  enemy's  troops  were  agsdn  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  not  all  the  exertions  of  the  British 
officers  could  bring  them  up  to  another  assault.  They 
fled  precipitately  to  an  adjoining  wood,  and  were  very 
soon  followed  oy  the  Indians.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
firing  entirely  ceased:  and  an  army  much  more  than  ien 
times  superior  to  a  small  garrison,  was  compelled  to  re- 
linquish an  attack,  the  successful  issue  of  which,  was  not 
at  all  doubted  by  any  one  of  its  officers. 

A  3trong  degree  of  terror  prevailed  among  the  collect* 
ed  forces.  Tne  Indians  were  enraged  and  mortified  at 
this  unparalleled  defeat ;  and  carrying  their  dead  and 
wounded  from  the  field,  they  indignantly  followed  the 
British  regulars  to  the  shipping.  General  Proctor  aban- 
doned his  v/ounded,  and  len  the  dead  bodies  of  liis  most 
distinguished  officers,  among  whom  was  colonel  Short, 
in  the  ditch. — ^During  the  ni^t  of  the  2d,  major  Croghan 
received  as  many  of  me  wounded  enemy  through  the  port 
hole  as  were  able  to  approach  it,  and  to  those  who  could 
not,  he  threw  out  provisions  and  water. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Sd,  the  gun  boats  and  transports 
sailed  down  the  bay,  and  guards  of  soldiers  were  imme- 
diately afterwards  sent  out  to  collect  and  brins  into  the 
fort  all  the  wounded,  and  to  bury  the  enemy's  dead  with 
the  honours  to  which,  by  their  rank,  they  were  entitled. 
70  stand  of  arms,  several  bmces  of  pistols  and  a  boat 
containing  much  clothing  and  military  stwes,  which  had 
been  left  in  the  hurry  of  the  enemy's  flight,  were  theft 


164 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


ill 


taken.  The  loss  of  the  assailants  was  reported  to  have 
been  not  less  than  150;  that  of  tiie  garrison,  was  1  killed  j 
and  7  sli^tly  wounded. 

The  bnlllahcy  of  this  afi&ir  procured  for  the  officers 
and  men,  the  thanks  of  the  government,  and  the  unfeigned 
applause  of  all  parties  in  the  union.  Major  Croghan  was 
soon  after  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and 
was  presented  with  a  sword  by  the  ladies  of  Chilicothe. 
His  precau^on  and  activitv  prevented  a  very  important, 
though  weak  post,  from  falling  into  the  hancts  of  the  ene- 
my; and  ^ve  a  powerful  chieck  to  their  plan  of  opera- 
tions, for  the  remaining  part  of  the  campaign.  The  com- 
mander in  chief,  whose  positive  orders  he  had  ventured 
to  disobey,  yielded  him  his  warmest  approbation,  and 
recommended  to  the  early  notice  of  the  departm^t  of 
vrar,  a  young  soldier  of  21  year s,  who  had  baffiea  the 
most^in^enious  efforts  of  the  British  general,  andlnad  sus- 
tained his  various  assaults  for  36  hours.  Besides  mfyor 
Cn^an,  the  garrison  contained  7  officers,  all  of  whom 
distinguished  themselves.  Captain  Hunter  was  second 
in«command,  and  resisted  the  attacks  of  the  second  Bri- 
tish column,  as  well  as  of  the  Indians.  Lieutenants  John- 
son, Bayler,  and  Meeks,  of  the  17th,  and  Anthony,  of  the 
£4th  and  ensi^s  Shipp  and  Duncan,  of  the  17th  were 
stationed  at  different  places  in  the  garrison,  and  acquitted 
themselves  with  great  credit. 

General  Harrison  had  no  sooner  been  apprised  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  toward  fort  Stephenson,  than  he 
sent  orders  for  tiie  immediate  march  of  £50  volunteers, 
from  tipper  Sandusky,  and  put  in  readiness  all  the  infan- 
try at  Seneca,  under  generals  M*Arthur  and  Cass.  Scouts 
were  instantly  forwarded  to  reconnoitre  the  position  of 
the  enemy,  but  in  consequence  of  the  strong  aisposition 
of  the  Indian  forces,  they  were  unable  to  approach  the 
garrison,  and  were  met  by  general  Harrison  and  his  dra- 
soons,  between  Seneca  town  and  fort  Stephenson.  Here 
me  retreat  of  the  enemy,  under  Proctor,  and  the  invest- 
ment of  fort  Meigs  by  Tecumseh  were  i&rst  heard  of, 
and  the  general  directed  M'Arthur  and  Cass  to  fall  back 
to  Seneca  town,  for  the  protection  of  the  sick,  and  the 

Srovisions,  But  two  days  after,  Tecumseh  and  his  In- 
ians,  followed  the  steps  of  Proctor  and  Dixon,  and  all 
*ppieheiisions  about,  the  safety  of  the  military  hospitals 
were,  therefore,  removed.. 


OF  THE  ULTE  WAf; 


165 


to  have 
1  killed, 

B  officers 
nfeigned 
5han  was 
onel,  and 
hilicothe, 
nportanty 
:  the  ene- 
of  opera- 
rhe  corn- 
ventured 
lion,  and 
rtm^t  of 
oMm  the 
dhad  Sus- 
ies major 
of  whom 
Ks  second 
:Cond  Bri- 
ints  John- 
ay,  of  the 
7th  were 
acquitted 

ed  of  the 
than  he 
olunteers, 
the  infan- 
ts. Scouts 
position  of 
isposition 
roach  the 
I  his  dra- 
►n.    Here 
e  invest- 
heard  of, 
fall  back 
and  the 
his  In- 
,  and  all 
hospitals 


The  American  fleet  on  the  lake  Erie,  having  been  com- 
pleted, and,  with  great  difficulty,  pissed  over  the  bar,  a 
principal  part  of  me  crew  of  each  vessel  beiag  made  up 
of  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  who  had  volunteered  to  goon 
an  expedition,  sailed  4)n  a  short  cmise,  for  the  purpose  of 
training  the  ffuns,  and  of  exercisins  the  .sailors.  In  the 
latter  part  or  August,  commodore  I^rry  proceeded  to  the 
mouth  of  Sandusky  river,  to  co-ojjerate  with  general  Har- 
rison. At  this  place,  about  70  volunteer  marmes  were  re- 
ceived' on  board,  and  the.  fleet  sailed  in  quest  of  the  Bri- 
tish squadron.  The  latter  was,  at  that  time,  near  Maiden, 
before  which  place  commodore  Perry  appeared,  and  after 
reconnoitring  the  enemy,  he  retired  to  ^nt'in'bay,  a  dis- 
tance of  30  miles,  in  hopes  of  drawing  out  his  an^onist. 
r  On  the  morning  of  the  lOtli  of  September,  of  the  same 
year,  1813,  the  enemy  was  discovered,  bearing  down  upon 
the  American  squadron*  w^iich  immediately  got  under 
weigh,  and  stood  out  to  meet  him.  The  superiority  of 
force  was  greatly  in  favour  of  the  British,  though  they  had 
not  an  equal  number  of  vessels.  Their  crews  were  lai^er, 
and  the  length  and  numl>er  of  their  guns  greater,  than 
those  of  the  American  squadron.  The  latter  consisted  of 
the  br^  Lawrence  (flag  vessel)  of  20  guns ;  the  Niagara, 
captain  Elliot,  of  20;  the  Caledonia,  lieutenant  Turner^of 
3;  the  schooner  Ariel,  of  4;  the  Scorpion,  of  2;  the  So- 
mers,  of  2,  and  2  swivels;  the  sloop  Trippe,  and  schoon- 
ers Tigress  and  Porcupine,  of  1  gun  each ;  making  a  fleet 
of  9  vessels,  of  54  guns,  and  2  swivels.  The  British  saua- 
dron  consisted  of  the  ships  Detroit,  commodore  Barclay, 
of  19 guns,  and  2 howitzers;  the  Queen  Charlotte, captain 
Finnis,  of  17, and  1  howitzer;  the  schooner  Lady  Prevost. 
lieutenant  Buchan  '^f  13,  and  1  howitzer;  the  brie  Hun- 
ter, of  10;  the  sloo;>  Little  Belt,  of  3;  awl  the  schooner 
Chippewa,  of  1,  and  2  swivels :  making  a  fl««t  of  6  vMseis, 
and<63  guns,  ■\  howit/.ers,  and  2  swivels. 

When  th.  American  fleet  stood  out,  the  British  fleet 
had  tlie  wi .  thergage ;  but  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  the  wind 
shifted,  and  brough  ^  the  American  to  windward.  The  line 
of  battle  was  formed  at  11;  and  at  15  minutes  before  IS, 
the  enemy's  flag  ship,  and  the  Queen  Ch"rlotte.  opened 
upon  the  Lawrence  a  heavy  and  eff*ectuai  lire,  which  she 
was  obliced  to  sustain  upwards  of  ten  minutes,  without 
a  possibility  of  returning  it,  in  consequence  of  her  bat- 


166 


lilSTORICAL  SKETCHES 


i 


u 


• 


II 


tery  being  of  carronades.  She  nevertheless  continued  to 
bear  up,  and  having  given  a  signal  for  the  other  vessels 
to  support  iier,  at  a  few  minutes  before  12  opened  her 
fire  upon  the  enemv.  The  wind  being  too  light  to  assist 
the  remainder  of  the  squadron  in  eomine  up,  the  Law- 
rence was  com{lbUed  to  fidit  the  enemy's  neaviest  vessels 
upwards  of  two  hours.  The  crew  were  not  at  all  de- 
pressed; their  animation  increased,  as  the  desperation  of 
the  fi^t  became  greater,  and  the  guns  were  worked  with 
as  much  coolness  and  precision,  as  if  they  had  been  in  the 
act  of  training  only.  The  slaughter  on  board  the  bri? 
was  almoi:>t  unparalleled,  the  rising  very  much  injured, 
and  the  braces  entii;ely  shot  away:  and. at  length,  after 
every  gun  had  b^en  rendered  useless,  sh«e  became  quite 
unmanageable.  The  first  lieurenant,  Yarnall,  was  thrice^ 
wounded;  the  second  lieutenant,  Forrest,  struck  in  the 
breast;  the  gallant  lieutenant  Brookes,  of  the  marines, 
and  midshipman  Laub  were  killed,  and  sailing  master 
Taylor,  purser  Hamilton,  and  midshipmen  Claxton  and 
Swartwout,  wounded.  Her  loss  already  amounted  to 
22  killed,  and  61  wounded;  when  the  commodore,  see- 
ing tiiat  she  must  very  soon  strike,  if  the  other  vessels 
were  not  brought  up,  gave  the  command  of  the  Law- 
rence to  lieutenant  i  arhall,  and  jumping  into  a  boat,  or- 
dered it  if}  be  steered  for  the  Niagara,  to  which  vessel  he 
had  determined  to  shift  his  flag.  In  passing  from  the 
Lawrence  to  the  Niagara,  he  stood  up,  waving  his  sword, 
and  gallantly  cheering  his  men,  under  a  shower  of  balls 
and  bullets.  He  gained  the  Niagara,  unhurt,  stt  the  mo- 
ment tJiP  flag  of  the  Lawrence  came  down;  and  the  wind 
having  at  that  instant  increased,  he  brought  her  into  ac- 
tion, and  at  45  minutes  past  2,  gave  signal  for  the  whole 
*'fleet  to  close.  All  the  vessels  were  now  engaged,  but  as 
the  tuperiority  of  .the  enemy  had  been  increased  by  the 
loss   of  the  I^awrence,  the  commodore  determined  on 

f)iercing  his  line  with  the  Niagara.  He  therefore  reso- 
utely  bore  up,  and  passing  ahead  of  the  Detroit,  Queen 
Charlotte,  and  Lady  Prevost,  poured  a  galling  and  de- 
structive Jfire  into  each  from  his  starboard  side,  and  into 
the  Chippewa  and  Little  Belt,  from  his  larboard.  He 
WHS  th^n  within  half  pistol  shot,  and  as  he  cut  through  the 
line,  the  ( ominnnder  of  the  Lady  Prevost,  a  braive  officer, 
who  had  distinguiiiihed  liimself  at  the  battle  of  the  NUe, 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB*^ 


ler 


otinued  to 

ler  vessels 

pened  her 

td  to  assist 

,  the  Law- 

iest  vessels 
at  all  de- 
speration of 

vorked  with 

I  been  in  the 

trd  the  brie 

luch  injured, 

length,  after 

i^came  quite 

[I,  was  thrice^ 

itruck  in  the 

the  marines, 

ailing  master 
Claxton  and 

amounted  to 

Bimodore,  see- 
other  vessels 
of  the  Law- 
nto  a  boat,  or- 
hich  vessel  he 
^ing  from  the 
ring  lus  sword, 

■hower  of  balls 
irt,  it  the  mo- 
■  and  the  wmd 
^t  her  into  ac- 
i  for  the  whole 
Ingaged,  but  as 
Vreased  by  the 
'leterminOT  on 
therefore  reso- 
Detroit,  Queen 
■ailing  and  de- 
*  «ide,  and  mto 
I  larboard.    He 
cut  thiM)Uffh  the 
a  brave  officer, 
rte  of  the  Nile, 


received  a  musket  ball  in  his  face,  and  the  crew  being  un- 
able to  stand  the  fire,  immedu^lj  ran  below.  At  this  mo- 
ment the  Caledonia  was  strugnhng  to  get  closer  into  the 
action,  and  her  commander,  Jueutenant  Turner,  ordered 
her  guns  to  be  fired  through  the  foresail,  which  interfered 
between  him  and  the  enemy,  rather  than  lose  the  chance 
of  a  full  share  in  the  combat,  and  was  only  prevented  from 
attempting  to  board  the  Detroit,  by  the  prudent  refusal  of 
the  officer  of  another  small  vessel  to  assist  him. 

The  action  was  now  raging  with  its  utmost  violence; 
every  broadside  fired  with  the  most  exact  precision,  and 
the  result  of  the  conflict  altogether  uncertain.    In  addi- 
tion to  the  loss  of  the  Lawrence's  guns,  one  of  the  Ariel's 
had  burst,  and  the  enemy  had  then  the  superioritv  of  34 
guns.    This  doubtful  aspect,  however,  soon  after  changed. 
The  Queen  Charlotte  had  lost  her  captain,  and  all  tier 
principal  officers;  and  having,*by  somfe  mischance,  run 
foul  of  the  Detroit,  most  of  the  guns  of  both  vessels  be- 
came useless.    In  this  situation,  advantage  of  which  was 
immediately  taken  by  commodore  Perrv,  they  were  com- 
pelled to  sustain,  in  turn,  an  incessant  nre  from  the  Nia- 
^ra,  and  other  vessels  of  the  American  squadron.    The 
British  commodore's  flag  was  soon  after  struck,  and  those 
of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  the  Lady  Prevost,  the  Hunter, 
and  the  Chippewa,  came  down  in  immediate  succession. 
The  whole  fleet  surrendered  to  the  infericyr  squadron,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Little  Belt,  which  attempted  to  es- 
cape, but  was  pursued  by  two  of  tj?e  gun  boats,  and  cap- 
tured at  a  distance  of  three  miles  from  the  nauajdron. 

Thus,  after  an  action  of  three  hours,  in  wnich  the  in- 
dividual gallantry  of  either  fleet,  had  never  been  surpass- 
ed by  any  naval  event  now  to  be  found  on  the  record  of 
history,  was  the  entire  command  of  this  important  lake, 
yielded  to  the  American  arms.  To  the  future  operations 
of  the  northwestern  army,  every  prospect  of  success  was 
thrown  open,  and  the  recovery  of  the  lost  territory  be- 
came no  longer  doubtful.  Commodore  Perry  informed 
his  government,  that  it  had  *  pleased  the  Mmighty  to 
crown  their  arms  with  success  }'*  and  attributed  the  issue 
to  the  gallant  conduct  of  his  officers,  his  men,  and  the  vo- 
lunteers on  board.  Among  them  are  to  be  found  tiie 
names  of  captain  Elliot,  lieutenants  Turner,  Edwards  imd 
Forrest,   and  midshipmen  Laub,    Cla&ton,  Swartwout, 


i6d 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


Clark  and  Cummings.  Of  the  conduct  of  lieutenants  Yar- 
nall^  and  Brookes,  and  puter  Hamilton,  the  latter  of 
whom  worked  as  a  common  skilor  at  a  gun,  the  best  evi- 
dence has  been  given — ^the  admiration  of  the  whole  of 
their  own  squadron,  as  well  as  that  of  the  enemy. 

'Hie  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  both  neets  was 
excessively  ereat.  Commodore  Barclajr  was  wounded  in 
the  hip,  and  lost  the  use  of  his  ridit  arm:  ^e  otiier  had 
been  snot  off  in  a  former  action.  The  loss,  on  board  his 
squadron  exceeded  200.  The  American  loss  amounted 
to  27  killed,  and  96  wounded.  The  captured  vessels  were 
convoyed  to  the  bay  of  Sandusky,  ana  the  prisoners,  600 
in  nuni^ber,  conducted  to  Chilicothe.  Among  these,  were 
a  few  companies  of  the  British  41st  regiment,  who  had 
been  taken  on  board  to  act  as  marines. 

T^e  result  of  this  bril|iant  conflict,  was  immediately 
followed  by  active  and  extensive  preparations  for  the  ex- 
pulsion of  tile  enemy  from  Detroit,  the  entire  subjuga- 
tion of  Maiden,  and  the  overthrow  of  general  Proctor's 
army.  These  objects  achieved,  the  operations  on  the 
Niagara,  and  St.  Lawrence  would  be  rapidly  facilitated, 
and  the  most  plausible  prospects  helct  out  to  an  expedi- 
tion asainst  Montreal.  Governor  Meigs  had  made  a  call 
upon  uie  militia  of  Ohio,  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  of 
the  attack  upon  fort  Stephenson,  and  upwards  of  15,000 
volunteers  wer»  very  soon  under  arms.  Many  of  these 
were  not  yet  dischai^d,.and  general  Harrison  now  re- 
quired a  proportion  of  them.  At  the  mouth  of  Portage 
river,  he  intended  that  his  whole  army  should  be  concen- 
trated; and  between  that  point  and  Sandusky  bay,  he 
caused  fences  of  \ogi&  to  be  constructed  for  the  protection 
of  the  horses  and  baggage.  The  governor  of  Kentucky, 
Isaac  Shelby,  arrived  at  the  new  head  quarters  of  the  ar- 
my on  the  1/th  of  September,  with  4,000  well  mounted 
volunteers.  The  works  at  fort  Meiffs  being  reduced,  and 
garrisoned  by  a  few  men,  general  M*Arthur  marched 
from  that  post  with  his  brigade,  and  joined  the  main  body 
also.  Thus  strengthened,  general  Harrison  determined 
on  invading  the  enemy's  shores ;  and,  at  the  dawn  of  the 

•  This  gallant  young  officer  has  since  been  lost,  in  the  Umted 
States  brig  Epemer,  on  her  passage  from  the  Mediterranean  with 
dei^atches. 


4' 


OF  THE  LA^TB  WAB. 


169 


Sl6t  he  ordered  bU  forceg  to  embark  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  to  rendezvous  at  the  diflferent  islands,  which 
lay  in  clusters  between  Maiden  and  the  point  of  embarka- 
tion. To  colond  Johnson,  who  commanded  a  Kentucky 
mounted  regiment  at  fort  M?igs,  he  gave  orders  to  pro- 
ceed to  Detroit  by  land;  arriuiffements  having  been  first 
made,  by  which  uiat  officer  and  the  commander  in  chief, 
tvere  to  be  informed  of  each  other's  progress  by  daily  ex- 
presses. 

On  the  27th  the  troops  were  received  on  bbard  the 
fleet,  now  enlarged  by  the  captured  vessels.  They  were 
embarked  at  a  small  island,  aoout  SIO  miles  from  Maiden, 
called  the  Eastern  Sister,  and  one  of  two  islands  to 
which  the  names  of  the  Sisters  had  been  siven.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  fleet  which  was  cmnpo- 
sed  of  16  vessels  of  war,  and  upwards  of  100  boats,  ar- 
rived at  a  point  3  miles  below  Maiden.  Here  the  troops 
were  landed  in  good  order,  and  with  perfect,  silence,  and 
proceeded  thence  to  Amherstburg. 

The  British  general,  well  aware  that  the  American  com- 
mander would  early  avail  himself  of  the  advantages  late- 
ly gained  by  the  capture  of  the  fleet,  had  made  prepftrar 
tions  to  retire  into  th6  interior  of  Canada,  to  a  place  of 
better  security  than  Maiden.  He  was  apprised  by  his 
estafetUt  of  the  approach  of  general  Harrison,  and  hav- 
ing first  set  fire  to  the  fort,  and  destroyed  every  article 
ofpublic  property,  he  ordered  his  forces,  which  were  stUl 
composed  of  British  regulars,  and  Tecumseh  and  Dix- 
on^s  Indians,  to  retreat  towards  the  Thames,  and  ihence 
along  its  course  to  the  Moravian  towns.  The  fort,  ^ 
barracks,  and  other  public  buildings,- were  still  smoking,^ 
when  the  American  army  entered  Amherstbui^,  and  a 
number  of  females  came  out  to  implore  protection  from 
its  commander. — ^They  received  it.  The  guns  of  the 
batteries  had  been  previously  sunk,  one  only  remained 
oh  an  island  opposite  Maiden,  and  that  had  been  left  in 
the  confusion  oi  the  enemy's  retreat  to  the  Thames^ 

An^ierstbut^  had  heretofere  been  the  repository  of  In- 
dian spoil,  and  the  principal  depot  of  Indian  presemte^ 
The  tribes  had  been  continually  provided  with  munitions 
of  war,  from  the  garrison  there;  and  rewarded  at  that  post 
for  the  outrages  committed  by  them,  at  various  times,  up» 
on  the  people  of  the  adjoinins  American  territories*   The 


# 


170 


III8T0RIOAI.  SKETCHES 


> 


:(' 


!!i 


previous  sufferings  of  the  citizens  of  the  frontier*  had  all 
Deen  derived  from  the  activity  of  British  traders,  who 
were  proprietors  of  the  property  and  soil ;  yet  though 
almost  every  volunteer  of  the  American  army  had  been 
aflfected»  either  in  his  possessions,  in  his  own  person,  or 
in  that  of  his  relatives,  by  the  incursions  and  outrages  of 
the  enemy,  the  inhabitants  of  Amherstburg  were  protects 
ed  from  violence,  and  their  individual  property  honour- 
ably respected.  Highly,  and  frecjucntly^  as  tlie  indigna- 
tion of  t)iese  troops  had  been  excited,  they  were  still  de- 
termined to  contrast  their  conduct  here,  with  that  of  the 
British  and  Indians  ^t  the  river  Raisin;  andj  the  house 
and  grounds,  therefore,  of  the  most  active  officer  at  that 
scene,  colonel  Elliot,  suffered  not  the  least  molestation. 

On  the  28th,  the  army  crossed  La  RivUre  aux  Canards, 
the  bridge  over  which  the  enemy  had  not  stopped  to  de- 
strojyr,  and  arrived  at  Sandwich  on  the  followmgday,  the 
fleet  moving,  at  the  same  time  through  the  river  I)etroit  to 
that  place.  Governor  Shelby's  command  then  occupied 
the  point  at  which  the  first  invasion  .of  Canada  had  been 
attempted,  whilst  the  remainder  of  the  army  crossed  over 
to  the  delivery  of  the  town  of  De^it,  out  of  the  posses- 
sion of  the  British  Indians,  who  immediately  abandoned 
the  garrison,  and  retreated  in  different  directions.  Gene- 
ral Harrison,  knowing  that  large  numbers  of  warriors,  vlh- 
Aer  SplU'Logt  were  collecting  in  the  woods  hear  Huron 
of  lake  St.  Clair,  directed  general  M'Arthur  to  remain 
with  most  of  the  regulars,  in  the  occupation  of  Detroit, 
whilst  he  would  pursue  the  army  of  general  Proctor  up 
the  Thames.      f;^^^^ 

polonel  R  M.  Johnson's  regiment  had  arrived  at  De- 
troit on  tiie  day  after  its  occupation  by  the  American  ar- 
my; and  having  concentrated  this  force,  with  a  part  of 
colonel  Ball's  regiment  of  dragoons,  and  the  whole  of 
governor  Shelby's  volunteers,  the  commander  in  chief,  on 
the  2d  of  October,  pursued  the  enemy's  route*  Such  was 
the  rapidi^  of  his  movement,  that  he  encamped  in  the 
evening  of'^^  the  same  day  at  the  river  Mscum,  a  distance 
4)f  26  miles  from  Sandwich.  Early  on  the  moraing  of 
the  3d,  he  resumed  his  march,  and  being  accompanied 
(^general  Cass  and  commodore  Perry,  as  acting  aids, 
lie  woceeded  in  the  advance  witii  Johnson^s  regiment,  in 
«raer  to  secure  the  bridges  on  the  rivers.,  tributary  to  lake 


^ 


OF  THK  I.AT£  WAR. 


171 


r,  had  all 
iere,  wha 
et  though 
had  been 
yenon,  or 
atrages  of 
e  proteci- 
y  honour- 
i  indigna* 
■e.  still  de- 
;hatof  the 
the  house 
;er  at  that 
lestation. 
7  Canards, 
>ed  to  de- 
gr  day,  the 
Detroit  td 
1  occupied 
i  had  been 
ossed  over 
the  posses- 
abandoned 
I8«    Gene- 
rriors,  un- 
%r  Huron 
to  remain 
■  Detroit, 
roctor  up 

red  at  De- 
erican  ar- 
a  part  of 
wnoUe  of 
chief,  on 
Such  was 
id  in  the 
distance 
ormng  of 
ompanied 
ting  aids, 
^ent,  in 
to  lake 


St  Clair.  By  the  capture  of  a  lieutenant  of  dragoons  and 
eleven  privates,  who  had  been  left  in  eeueral  Proctor's 
rear,  with  orders  to  take  up  every  bri<&e,  by  whidh  the 
approach  of  Hatrison's  army  could  possibly  be  facilitated, 
one  bridffe  was  saved,  and  the  American  general  learck<v 
ed  that  the  enemy  had  no  *'  certain  information  of  his  ad- 
vances up  the  Thames.'*  Within  eight  miles  oi  this  river, 
at  Drake's  farm,  the  army  encamped  for  the  night,  and 
its  ba^age  followed  thus  far,  in  the  transports  of  the 
squadron. 

On  the  morninff  of  the  4th,  the  army  again  proceeded 
on  its  route,  and  having  reached  Chatham,  17  miles  from 
lake  St.  Clair,  found  iU  progress  obstructed  by  a  deep 
and  uitfordable  creek,  the  bridge  of  which  had  lieen  par- 
tially destroyed  by  a  body  of  Indians  who  now  made 
their  appearance,  and  fired  on  the  front  suard.  They  had 
taken  a  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  and 
iknked  tne  American  army  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river. 
General  Harrison  madt^  immediate  arrangements  to  dis^ 
perse  or  capture  them.  Colonel  Johnson  was  already 
stationed  on  the  ri^t  of  the  line,  and  had  seized  the  ruins 
of  another  bridge,  under  a  smart  firf ;  from  the  Indians  on 
that  iliMik.  Major  Wood  was  directed  to  bring  up  his 
ari  ^ery,  and  cover  the  ^ton«ers,  who  wei  repauii^r  the 
first  i>ndge.  This  he  did  with  unexpected  occess.  The 
Indians  could  not  withstand  the  heavy  dischai^s  of  ar- 
tillery, and  they  therefore  retired  without  much  i  e^rd 
ta  the  order  of  their  retreat.  The  bridge  was  quickly  re- 
paired, and  the  army,  having  first  extinguished  the  flamea 
of  a  farm  house,  which  had  been  fired  by  the  Indians,  and 
captured  from  it  2000  stand  of  arms  and  a  quaslity  of 
clothing,  crossed  over  tiie  creek,  pursued  tiiie  enemy  four 
miles  up  the  river,  annoyed  his  rear  ffuard,  and  took  from 
him  several  pieces  of  cannon.  This  skirmish  conti- 
nued one  hour,  in  which  time  t'v.  »  wen  of  the  army  were 
killed,  and  six  wounded;  whilt^t  thii*teen  were  killed  on 
the  side  of  the  en^emy.  Bestti'^s  iiiaskets,  cannon,  and 
clotliing,  he  lost  three  vessels,  iv^ed  with  ordnance 
stores  and  arms,  which  the  approach  of  the  Americans 
obliged  him  to  destroy. 

On  the  5  th,  the  pursuit  was  eagerly  renewed,  and  at- 
tended by  Ihe  capture  of  two  cun  boats,  and  several 
barges,  loaded  wit];i  provisions  and  ammunition.    Having 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STRKT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


"'^    ^ 
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t/j 


i/.. 


i7Q 


ui^ToikUiAi,  sitB^rdiEs 


ill  '" 


attaittsd'ilke  g^ond  tm  wfakh  the  ^liemy  had  eiiGftmped 
the  iii^i6em«,  the  coiiBiiiaiid«r  In  chief  ^rettteitottknel 
Xohni^  to  hialen  ^  fiuircli  of  his  advairee  cuitrd^  and 
W9^ftirWtiPi^itii]0i6W  W  re<^moltre  the  flit«ation'4>f 
the'ciHAbiiMd  Bnliiih  and  Indkn  tbrces^  This  <Eiffioer 
tirj  noun  i^lert  reliiiriD»d  witljt  intdligenee  that  the  ene- 
m^^WM^  {M%p»red  1^  aedt>n,ln  tM  lipmi^  jBtamitV^d^ 
IwkaSiH  of  the  Anetican  inain  body.  Tlieroai  ttpon 
'iNriBch  general  Harrison  was  then  mkrehing,  entered  a 
thnsk^d  extensiine  forest  on  tiie  beach.  A  stortdtstaiice 
fit»in^ilfe^nli:  of  the  Thames,  was  a  a^lrj  avrampi  which 
extended  to  #ie  If iniivian  town*  and  between  Mn  swanfp 
and  the  riveT,  was  m  leve^  plidn,  ^i»HicH  ni^hidi,  becittse  «f 
ihd  thick  iiiKlerwood  in  the  forest,  ui^  armjr  w#aM  be 
N«  make  its  a|iproacbejk  Across  this  pkdn^  the 
l^%ne.was  drawn  up,  with  ita  left  reathsg^^on  the 
riter^  sitp^rted  bif^  the  greatest  proportiott  of  their  artfl- 
ler^,  its  cen^  bems  protected  by  two  heavy  pi(6ces,  and 
ill  atiengthi  in- regulars;  aatountine  to ^OOt  1^200  Indians 
wlM  liiited  along  the  margin  of  fie  >swamp. 

^~  PP  f^n^!^  Hanisdn  liad  come  up  with  the  main 
iilwas  advised  of  tiie  advantageous  sitaa^mi  of 
t|e'eiieiB|iy,  he  ordered  ccdonel  Pauh  with  150  regulars, 
tO'Oi^py  li  space  between  the  road  and  the  river;  to 
iih^ce  upon,  and  divert  the  enemy,  and  on  an  oppor- 
tmuHy,  to  sei^  the  q^non  which  defenckd  h»  left  flank, 
litttbtenaat  colimet  James  Johnson  was  i^^cted  to  form 
nuu^t^  PHijiu^s  battaUon  of  the  mounted  re{||iment,  and 
Mbr  Skiget^  three  spy  companies,  into  sik  chaiglBig 
coftniiia,  mnediately  in  n-ont  of  the  British  line  of  rega- 
Ws  alld  an  Indian  flank:  whilst  general  Henny^^divbton 
of  iftflia^,  shouM  be  stationed  ibrhis  support  in  his  rear. 
Golbliel  it.  IML  Johnaoi^  wtas  vharoed  with  the  formation  of 
annfter  battiAkm,  in  front  of  the  Indians«^  that  w»«  ar- 
rayod  on  the  margni  ef  the  swamp^  He  according  ly  dis- 
mea^t^  one  company,  under  comniand  of  ci^itiin  mack" 
eTtWilk  which  he  stratohed^^ne  in  fine  of  the  incBans, 
and  ordered  makr  Thompson  to  form  the  Femaini%foor 
cod^pianleSk  on  norgeback,  into  t«rb  cliannng  colnnras  of 
double  'files,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  lie  line  on  foot. 
Tlw  kit  of  tluB  battalion  was  siqpported  by  the  inHuitry 
of  ajMiertti  Besha. 

ThiM  dispbled,  with  the  main  army  in  theb  rear,  these 


iht$mptd 
:  #16  enc- 


interact  a 
Iflitftiiice 
ftp,  whicli 
Ib  swamp 

ir#alii  Ite 
pMn^  the 
tf^^&tk  the 
ben'  ariy- 

iHceft,  and 

0  Indians 

the  Biain 
»a^«o&  of 
regulars, 
river;  to 
n  Ojppor- 
eft  BMik. 

1  to  form 
ientt  and 
chttgi% 

of  re^- 
k^di^ion 

his  fear, 
nation  of 
were  ar- 
B^tydis- 

lii<yaiis, 


wims  of 
on  loot. 
isAiitry 

nr,  these 


^4mwim  JomJt^mAB^B 


ITS 


cHwoBS  mowe^  forwi^^  to  this  attach*  The  BtMI#gife 
-Ihft^firat  ii«<  ^Mik^^whidi  ^  4;^^  wa»  ^^is^mmM, 
aod  ilk  a  itm isiiBiiai^ the esm^lim^im ^fi0o^ik^ 
MfwanisH^  IM^  lont^nleiH  who»  MijHlg^#a|«|M)i  ll^lp- 
lish  cegi^m  wi^  irresisahl^tpeedi^^  ittMiir 

£M»4)r  eiit  cMm  itsisrj  9^1^  ii4»«  imfiD8<4  «^ 
haiihg^iiilh^  aiMl  woiinM  %nmrda  of^  SQ^  «t  eao  ehtfie, 
iBStaa%^iriBidi  k  thehr  i«arr  ai#  tho  ^mSk 

Siichiiinn  thefanic  whMir  iMtrvadid  dfisiiiMe^ieof  the 
enoii^,  thi^fii  oidop  wi^  had  been  issited  |tf Is 
net,  was^iot  attempted  to  he  eseti^df  tti^  ki ' 
'wh^,  GsAoneto  Mmam  IMMit^n^  ani  laaliilr  I 

l%a^(BlMa||aiiitd.4ifr  sooner  heoft  #M0,  th«H  je9A#  IIn^ 
^dbmmmi^  ««vise«ifRjiice«  of  his  concbictin  i||d3|iai, 
if  he  shorn  hoi  tatoen  in  thip  battiei  abandaiiedr  W^ooni- 
oniid^^iBd  nide  his  escape  In  a  ourrisge^  imder  a  stviHig 
escopi^of  dii|$eonft.. 

Whdat  <his  brtlUant  ehsig^  was  mahing  ot  the  Mi^ 
the  aoienwas  rigiogwtih  gi^yielenkMi  o&  fhel^^ 
Mitwtlm'Sm  In^ooDi  #eie,.  and  thi  miwiiited  liii^iiid 
infiailKir  drawn  up  ^aefdasl  -i^niy  It  waft  ioi^ger  i^ii|p|ii^^: 
obelliiaitfy  contended.  The  kidiaiis  were  ^MifiM 
by  ^cmimft,  who  fon^t  with  more  thim  laa  acen^siHk* 
ed  skiU,  and  hi  Ting  posted  his  wuriiors  in^besl^pos^i- 
hle  situatiims  to  repulse  an  attack,  he  indicikilid  ilii  li^ 
Hnsnesa  to  reoeiiFo  the  assanlt  of  tfo  Aiaamm  ctimjlxj, 
C^Meliohnson,  who  saw  that  the  butaolwovld  ^  ' 
the  groand.  with  mote  bmr^fj  t|iaa  ^  Bi^ikk 
pU^ed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  bidrtaKon,  ttwtlelWup 
to  a  v^oFous  charge  upon  Ihcmtisth's  fyaak,  1|M||^iiief 
at  the  same,  moment  dealt  out  a  trem^idous  fteis»  whiihi 
though  severe  in  its  effect,  did  pot  retwd  tiie  MvmbkmI 
of  the  advancing  columns.  But  the  diffic1lltv^  of  pallia- 
ting the  thicket  and  swamp,  threw  an  inpedkMt  hi^^the 
way  of  a  successful  rescdt  to  an  t>nset  wiin  doigDoni^  Attd 
the  atter.pt  ta  break  the  Indhm  Une,  in  C0Bte<pieiR€e 
failed.  i%.u  eugagement  imjaiiiediately  took  place,  however, 
in  ¥4iieh,  after  ^zchangmg  several  rounds  With  1||eiitR- 
sek*8  band,  coh>n^  Johnson  ordered  both  his  colttih^  to 
dlsmount^and  teading  them  )i4p  a  seq^p^l  i]me,he  aim^ii 
desperate,  but  sttccesinil  eiCort,  te  break  throi^  tMHu^ 
dians.    HannggBiBod  the  rear  of  thair  line,  hiSBtttor- 


174 


HISTARICUI^  SK£fi:CHi;S 


der  #r«£t^  his  men  to ,  fight  t)^  in  iime  own  mode. 
Thck  pontes;^  be<;iitnie  now  more  obstinate.  N(^iiri^»taiid- 
ing^^tbeir  tine  n«4  l^n  t^^  pierced,  apd  their  wmioi» 
were  filling  m  co^uderable  numtiersi  the  Indians  did  not 
^Mi  theiMyet  jet  discomtted^  and  quickly  collecting 
their  iMittciiwi  strenji^  upon  the  risht,  they  ni»de  an  at- 
teqi|»t  to  penetrate  me  line  of  infantry  under  fene.id  He- 
sha.  In  mb  ^ey  had  nartially  succeeded,  a  part  of  thai 
BiMi  hai^hg  f jjilti^ced,  w)^  goTeimor  She%  brought  up 
thr^  cem^ies  of  his  volunteers  to  its  support,  and^  in 
ti)ffn,  threw  h^k  (he  Indians.  ^ 

'^jJlieenvfhUe  colonel  R.  Bft.  J<^8(m  Had  been  five  times 
wolfed,*  and  m  that  state,  covered  with  blood,  and  ^st" 
hausted  by  pun  and  fatigue*  ^  personally  encountered 
Tectmseh.  The  colonel  was  mounted  on  a  whitocharger, 
at  whtth,  being  a  conspicuonsol^t,  the  Indians hiul  con- 
tinuallv  levelled  their  fir^  A  shower  of  biillets  had  fallen 
round  iiini;  his  holsters,  his  clothes,  and  most  of  his  ac- 
coutrements, were  pierced  In  lieveral  places;  and  at  the 
instant  when  he  discovered  Tectf^mseA,ni8  horse  received 
a  secoM  wound.  Teeumsek  having  dischareed  fads  rifl^, 
SpriiiK  forward  with  his  tomhawk,  a<td  had  it  already 
tafeed  to  throw,  wh^  colonel  JohnsbiPs  horse  stag|peif«a 
baek,  and  immediately  the  colonel  4]iew  tbk^  a  fustolj 
shot  die  Imtian  throng^  the  head,  and  both  fell  to  t^ 
ground  together.t  ' 

The  wounded  colonel  being  then  lemoved  from  the 
fie)f»  the  comniaQd  of  that  battalion  devolved  on  major 
'l^iiMison,  who,  continued  to  fisht  the  whole  body  of  me 
Iniyi|&  (then  upwards  of  lOOOj,  more  than  an  hour,  and 
ly  put  them  to  flight.  In  their  attempt  to  gun 
the  l^laoe,  through  ^e  level  plain,  they  were  pursued, 
aJMlpumbers  of  mem  cut  flown  by  the  cavalry. 

The  Atnericans  being  now  masters  of  the  fidd,  then* 
glihant  commander,  wim  had  been  in  every  part  of  the 
actio^,  directed  the  wounded  officers  and  men  «f  boiQi 
,,ann!es,  to  be  taken  care  of;  and  the  trophies  <tf  tiie  vic- 

*  CfD^nd  Johnson  survived  his  woUnda,  md  yet  represents  the 
state  of  lEentnckv,  in  the  natit^ial  legialaturet 
.  f  It  hki  be«n  frequently  doubted,  whether  the  Indian,  who  thus 
attacked  ^e  colonel,  was  TVctMMeA.— >That  chief  was  f-mnd  dead, 
however,  upon  the  field  of  battle,  and  with  such  a  wounds  as  is 
deserfhed  to  have  been^yen  to  colonel  Johnnon's  uitagonUt. 


s 


I  mode' 

wwmon 
did  not 
»llectiiig 
e  axL  at- 
e.^  He- 
t  of  thftt 
i^t  up 

■9  ■ 

ve.  times 
,.a]id«x^ 
yiuttered 
ii;hftrger, 
hiid  con- 
ad&llen 
I  bi»  ac- 
id ai  the 
received 
Idsril^, 
idready 


orrtRK  lATH^m 


173 


a  {Ustol, 
1  to  the 

rom  the 
tn  major 
J  of  uie 
our»  and 
tog;aiiL 
urstted, 

i,  their 
of  the 
|«f  both 
1  the  vic- 

sntithe 

^hothuB 
id  d^adj 
ndt  as  is 


tory  to  be  colieoted  and  conveyed  to  the  8qiiadn>n«i#«' 
Among  these,  were  several  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  wMdi 
had  b(^  taken  fivm  Bdrgoyn^,  at  Sanltogik,  in  the  stmgr 
gte  for  the  iytepeildenee  of  the  states,  and  surrendered 
again  by  eeneral  Hull,  d5jrears  afterwards,  at  Detroit 

In  the  battle  of  the  Tfuubes  {5th  Ociobet,  1813),  the 
number  of  Americans  engaged  did  not  exceed  1400^  The 
nature  of  the  j^und,  reimered  an  operation  by  the  whole 
force  impfactic&i^e,  tmd  the  main  body  therefore  formed 
;i  corps  of  reserve.  They  sustained' a  loss  &[  50,  id  killed 
and  wounded.  The  number  x»f  the  former,  amoMTwhom 
was  a  brave  old  solcHer  of  the  revolution,  colonel  Whitley, 
then  serving  sis  a  volunteer  private  in  a  Kentucky  r^- 
ment,  amounted  to  17.  The  en^mylost  in  regulars  alone, 
upwards  of  90  killed,  and  about  the  same  number  wound- 
ed, and  surrendisred  in  all  600  prisoners.  Among.the  In- 
dians, 120  were  killed,  includmg  their  brave>  but  amtn- 
tionS^  and  inveterate  leader. 

A  squadron  of  horse,  which  had  been  Ordered  in  mir- 
suttof  Proct6r,immediatelyafter  his  flight,  returned  to 
general  Harrison  with  the  oagg^  and  private  papers  <^' 
the  British  commander,  wMch  tSiev  had  taken  witldh  100 
yards  of;  his  escort.  By  the  speed  of  his  horses,  and  his 
knowledge  of  the  country,  he  successfully  eluded  his  put^ 
suers. 

The  result  of  Has  victory  was  hi^y  advantageous,  not 
only  to  the  operations  of  the  army  below,  but  to  all  the^ 
northwestern  territories^  some  of  whose  inh«bitanis  were 
released  from  the  restraint  of  a  cdnquered  people,  and 
had  now  a  favourable  prospect  of  future  tranquiUiJ^*  By 
this  events  the  whole  British  fonce  in  tlmt  part  of  Cfaiuida, 
was  destroyed;  the  Sssociation,  with  eacn  other,  ijft^^ 
different  tnbes,  hostile  to  the  United  States,  prevented  j 
and  their  reunion  with  the  c.iemy  entirely  cut  off.  By 
the  fall  of  the  &uuvanoe  chief,  the  Americans  were  dis^^ 
cumbered  of  their  most  powerful^  inveterate,  and  expe- 
rienced Indian  enemy;  and  a  sudden  check  was  given  to- 
the  sjiirit  of  barbarian  enterprise,  to  which  that  flintier 
had  hitherto  been  subject.  Teeumseh  was  a  bold,  intre- 
pid, and  active  leader,  whose  undeviating  practice  it  was, 
never  to  ttdie  a  prisoner*  He  was  ever  reidy  to  conceive 
a  daring  and  innuman  design,  and  would  execute  it  with 
unprecedented  and  remorseless  perseverance.   His  ruling 


ire 


HI«!r<miCAL  SKSTOHES 


pasMkmw  thii^  f^iider  mid  animhilft<loi&  of  this  pedlile 
whom  he  believed- had  encroadied  upon,  and^pradanly 
deprived  hii  m^estry  of  th^  «oiK  mtt,  when  he  ^inder- 
tom  «n  exped^oDr  accomtNUiied  br  hifi  tribe,  he  woiild 
reliai^itH  to  th^m  the  spoil,  though  lie  woald  never  yield 
the  pritile^  of  destrtmng^e  victim.  To  the  Indians  of 
ail  other  tribes,  as  weU  as  to  that  among  whom  he  was 
bom,  tbe  loss  of  a  leader  like^1[^uni$e/t,  on  whose  capa^ 
city  and  conduct  as  a  war^^kir,  thej  could  always  reijf 
and  wiio  would  ^ncbun^  and  assist  in  their  crueltieft, 
wiis  therefore  irreparable.  Such,  indeed,  was  the  effect 
of  h»  death,  upon  the  tribes  generally,  that  bHuiy  of  the 
diiefs  of  most  of  the  nations,  Irnvm^  no  confidence  in  any 
other  leader*  ^ve  themselves  up  to  the  conqueri^  g^e- 
rill  ai^l  n^jeotiated  with  him  terms  of  peace^in  WM%  he 
s^ttbtted  waH,  his  govemmelit  should  not  be  expected  to 
smistiheir  warrioi^k 

On  the  day-following  that  on  which  the  battle  of  the 
'fhameff  was  fought  igeneral  Harrison  des^^ech  the  Mo- 
ravian town,  and  commen<!ed  his  inarch  for  Detroit,  where 
he  n^^otiat^  tenns  of  peace  with  other  tribes,  and  re- 
ceiveif  a  flag  froln  general  Proctor,  accompanied  bf  it  re^ 
GOiest,  that  h^^  treatment  mi^t  be  extended  to  the 
Bridi^  prisoners^  This  request  had  been  anticipsted  by 
the  American  eeneral,  who  nad  already  given  up  the  sim- 
jk^  comforts  of  his  own  tent,  to  the  wounded  British  co- 
tottels,  and  had  instructed  his  tr6ops  before  the  battie,  &at 
i^  person  of  even  menerol  Froctor  should  be  req^ted, 
%  l)^  the  fortune  of^  day^it  should  be  thrown  into  &eir 
hands;-/  ^■■-  ■  -^      -^-''yi  -V.-. 

At  Detroit  governor  Shelbj^  volunteers,  and  the  twelve 
ipOkiUla'  men,  were  aM  honourably  dischiu^.  Tlie  Ibrt 
wi|ft  garrisoiied  by  1000  men,  uAder  general  Cass,  who 
iNfiiii^PlMimted  provisional  governor  of  the  Michi»in  tei^ 
riioiT;^  and  tiie  civil  law  was  restored  to  tiie  condition  in 
wii|cii  it  was  at  the  time  when  general  Prottor  inslxtttted 
olh^  ordinances,  for  the  government  of  the  inhabitants. 

lb  llie  event  of  his  success  against  Factor,  the  com* 
fiuttder  in  clac^  had  been  directed  by  tiie  war  d^artihent 
to  join  the  northern  army  on  the  Niagara;  and  atc^ing- 
)y,  havhig  besides  these  arranfltments,  stationed  a  re- 
spectable forlce  at-Maldra  «id  Sandwich,  on  tiie  dSd  of 


OF  TOM  lAfE  VAB. 


yfT 


the  pedtole 

I  ne  under- 
,  hcj  Would 
lever  yield 
Indkttt  of 
»iii  he  was 
rhose  capft-* 
way*  Feiy, 
r  craeltie^, 
the  effect 
Any  of  t^ 
nee  in  any 

ti  Which  he 
x]^Gted  to 

ittleof  the 
id^  Mo- 
troit,  where 
«8,  and  Te- 
ed by  a  re- 
ded to  the 
cipttted  by 
ip  the  aim- 
Britiahco- 
battie,&at 
respected, 
a  ii^  their 

the  twelve 
The  fort 
Cass,  who 
chi^n  ter- 
sndition  in 
institttted 
ibitants. 
;  thecom- 
epartment 

atoo^inr 
ned  a  re- 
iiieflSdof 


October,  he  embarked  in  the  sqitad^fon  of  lake  Erie,  with 
all  his  disposables^  and  aailed  for  the  village  of  Buffaloe, 
where  he  arrived  before  the  beginning  of  mvember. 


w 


T- 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Plan  of  operations  onihe  8t,  iMwrenee^-^ConcentroHon 
^'of  the  forces  on  €irenadierlslimd — British  tAofidon  the 

investment  cf  Jhirt  Oeorge-^Deseent  of  the  St.  Law- 

rence^-^kirmi-^m  in  its  course^^Battie  of  CkrystUr's 

JUid-^The  i«^  ^''^  of  the  JVWtfterit  Jirmy  retires  to 
^winter  quarters'-^The,  right  wing  marches  through  the 

Chttteau^y  woods-^Is  attacked  by  the  British-^En^. 

gages  oMt  repulse^  themf-^&oesf  also  into  winter  gmr^ 
•^ier»-^!!Ph€  JStmerictms  evacuate  Fort  George,  am  de^ 

stroy^rewark^^--SwrreinderofFv^ 

tion  of  lawistown  and  Buffaloe. 

ContiESPONDBMT  with  tlie^e  movements  of  the  north- 
western army,  a  plan  of  operations  on  the  St  Lawrence, 
had  been  concerted  by  the  united  talents  of  the  war  de- 
partment, whieh  had  been  transferred  to  the  fhmtier,  and 
general  Wilkinson,  who,  having  succeeded  to, the  com- 
mand of  the  army  of  the  north,  had  ^tablished  his  head 
quarters  at  fort  Oeorse.  By  this  plan,  the  capture  and 
occupation  of  Montre^  and  fcingston,  the  grand  rendez- 
vous of  the  British  land  forces^  and  the  only  secure  har-' 
bour  for  their  naval  armaments,  was  contemplated;  and 
the  result  of  its  successfol  execution,  could  not  fall  of 
being^  fruitful  with  advantages  to  the  future  movemeiUs 
of  the  army,  and  the  contemplated  conquest  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Ifower  Canada.  The  late  overwrow  of  general 
Proctor  in  the  upper  province,  increased  the  expec^tions 
of  the  department  and  the  army,  an4  held  out  to  each, 
the  most  certain  prospects  of  eventual  si|C€ess.  Two  ob* 
stacles,  however,  presented  themselves  to  the  entire  ful- 
filment of  these  expectations.  The  lateness  of  the  sea> 
son,  which,  in  a  country  where  the  winter  commences 


i 


I  ; 


t 


^n 


HlftTOBICAI.  8]KIBTCHBS 


witb  j^«t  severity,  w0iil4  mile  up  iBsurmountable  ob- 
ntnkctimi  to  thi^  movemeats  of  treopt;  and  tke  diAerence 
of  opiniot^  between  the  eommaitding  eeneral  andtlra  se- 
eretaiy  of- war,  as  to  which  post  shoiud  be  the  first  object 
of  assault  Each  being  tenacious  of  his  own  opinion,  and 
botifi  anxious  for  the  consmnmation  of  the  concerted 
scheme,  it  became  necessary  to  hasten  the  impending;  ope- 
rations, by  liie  adoption  of  one  or  the  other.  The  delibe- 
ration of  a  council  of  war  was  proposed.  To  obviate  the 
first  difficulty,  tiie  removal  of  the  second  was  indispen- 
sable, aind  the  necessity  of  an  immediate  decision,  upon  a 
(|uestioR  involviiig  the  interests  of  tite  expedkien,  bcK;am« 
more  ob^ous^  A  coun^  was- thereibre  organized,  and 
cotoiceiving  that  the  success  of  the  design,  depended  on  an 
eaily  movement  of  the  designated .  force,  tim  decided, 
witnout  hesi^ttioa,  on  a  descent  upon  Montreal 

AmmgelneBts  were  then  adopted  to  collect  and  con- 
centrate the  different  regtments  on  Grenadier  island,  a 
peiiit  between  Kingston  and  Sac^efs  Harbour,  winch  had 
been  assigFied  as  the  best  ruMtezvous,  because  <rf  ita  con- 
tiguity to  the  head  of  tiie  St.  Lawrence.  Orders  were 
forwarded  to  fort  George,  to  colonel  Sc^ti  of  the  artillery, 
who  had  been  left,  bv  general  Wilkinson,  in  command  of 
tbat  post,  to  embark  his  artillery,  and  cotonel  Ranikilph's 
r^^nnent  of  infantrv,  <»i  board  a  vessel  of  the  sqiiadv(H», 
aim  to  proceed  to-me  island.  The  general  had  «&ft  the 
nurison  of  fort  Geoi^  on  the  2d  of  October  (181d),  with 
me  lar^st  portion  <^-the  troops,  who  were  n^wawaitins 
ike  amval  of  the  remainder,  at  the  rendezvouiE^  md  had 
been  actively  employed  in  providing- cloHiing,  and  ether 
equipments  necessary  to  tke  soldiers,- ift  the  course,  of 
their  movenuHrt  down  the  river.  Between  Greni^Uer 
island  juad  Sac]u:t'S  Harbour,  he  had  made  £f«quent  voy- 
ages, to  see  that  the  troqis  were  weH  bestowed  at  the 
£nrmer,  and  that  the  different  detachments,  which  almost 
daily  arrived  at  the  laMeVf  were  immediat^  de^^atehed 
tiience.  He  had  caused  a  suffici^t  number  4^  beets-  to 
be  prepared  to  convey  the  art^ery  through  the  StrLaw- 
rencef.  and  ^having  assicned  ^e  t»inmiand  of  BacketTs 
Barbea^  io  lieutenant,  cdonel  Dennis,  he  thence  procee<i* 
ed  to  pat  the  troops  in  raotkm  at  tiie  islands  4Xi; 

By  this  time  (the  9Sd)  the  force  at  that  place  amounted 
to  nearly  8000  men,  and  was  composed  ot  colonel  Moset 


BtaUe  ob- 
diAerence 
ad'the  8e< 
irat  object 
iiiion,and 
concerted 
idiittope- 
"he  deliDe- 
ibvUte  the 
indispen- 
on,  upon  a 

lized,  and 
ided  OB  an 
y  decided, 

;  and  con- 
r  island,  a 
wlricb  had 
o^  ita  eon> 
■ders  were 

E'^lery, 
id  of 
lph'8 
acHiadron, 
dMt  the 
81S),with 

t,  and  had 
and  ether 
ceume  of 
Greni^tier 
|uent  voy- 
ed  iM:  the 
ch  ahnost 


beata  to 
StLaw^ 
Sa«^fi& 
{HTOceed- 

unotthted 
lel  Moset 


or  THB  XATE  ^AK. 


179 


Porter^  light  aetilleiy ;  a  few  G0in|Nuiies  of  colonel  Bciltt'a 
(2d)  n^ment  of  artillery;  colonel  SfComb^  (ad)  fem- 
ment  ofartiUierj;  the  0th  ireg^ent  of  iitihiftry;  thewi, 
commarded  by  captain  Humphry;  the  llth;  the  l^Ukft 
colonel  Colea;  the  19th,  commanded  byeolonelV^peston 
of  the  23d;  the  14th,  lieatenant  colonel  Dix;  the  15th,  co- 
lonel Brearley;.the  16th,  colonel  Pearce;  the  dipt,  ooHonel 
Ripley;  the  22d,  colonel  Brady;  the  ^th;  and  ma|or  Fpr^ 
sythe's  rifle  corps. 

Having  issued  the  necessary-orders,  general  Wilkinson 
resolved  on  moving  on  the  25th;  and  atthough  the  eales 
which  had  prevailed  for  several  days,  continued  witn^^un- 
abated  violence,  and  were  now  attended  with  beviry  rahis, 
his  aaxietvto  promote  the  issue  of  the  expedition,  indaobd 
him  to  oraer  tne  embarkation  of  the  "troops;  and,  stnt^ 
giing  against  a  disorder  which  had  rendered  his  heallit  ex- 
tremely f>reearioQS,  he  remained  on  the  tsland  until  the 
embarkation  was  nearly  completed,  directing  the  boats  to 
take  advantdse  of  the  momentary  pauses^  the  storm, 
to  slide  into  me  l^t.  Lawrence. 

A  few  days  before,  intelligence  hadbe^n  forwarded  bf 
colonel  Scott^  of  the  enemy  havinff  evacuated  the  in- 
trenchmtots  in  the  nei^bourhood  of  fort  Georae^  and  of 
their  having^bumt,  and  otherwise  destroyed  all  Sieir  canap 
equipage  and  numy  stand  of  arms,  in  order  to  facUitate 
the  march  of  their  troops  to  Kingston;  to  which  pkM^e 
they  had  been  ordered,  as  soon  as  general  WiUdnson'^s 
contemplated  movement  was  discovered.  They  had  4ie^ 
ajt^risea  of  the  intentions  of  tlie  Americim  general  prie* 
viously  to  tlie  9th,  and,  on  that  day,  they  abaiidoned  tile 
whole  peninsula  on  the  Niagara,  and  directed  mibir  attend 
tion  tathe  defence  of  Kingston,  against  which  they  sup- 
posed ihe  Americans  would  move.  To  keep  tiiat  impres- 
sion alive,  and  to  confine  their  plans  to  the  jprotectitm  of 
Kingston  only,  general  Willdnson  fixed  on  French  creek, 
which  lays  imm^iately  opposite  the  point  at  which  the 
Britbh  suspected  he  would  land,  as  tne  general  rendez- 
vous of  the  troops,  after  their  entrance  into  the^t  Law- 
rence. Brigadier  general  Brown  (now  ^f  the  United 
States'  regulars)  was  oidered  forward  to  command  tiie 
advance  of  the  army  at  that  place;  and  the  rear ^was  seoii 
after  strengthened  by  the  arrival  at  Grenadier  island^  of 
fhe  SOth  regiment^  under  colonel  Randolph.  * 


180 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


On  the  Ist  November  the  enemy  appeased  at  French 
creek,  with  a  sqnadron  of  four  large  vessels,  and  a  num- 
ber of  boats  filled  with  infiintry,  and  attacked  the  detach- 
ment at  that  place  in  tlie  evemnSi  General  Brown  has- 
tily made  arrangements  to  defendnis  position,  and  after  a 
short  cannonaife  the  enemy's  vessels  were  compelled  to 
retire,  by  a  battery  of  three  18  pounders,  which  nad  been 
erected,  and  manaeed  with  great  spirit,  by  captains 
M'Pherson  and  Fanning,  of  the  artillery.  The  enemy  fell 
down  to  a  convenient  harbour,  and  renewed  his  attack  on 
the  following  niorning.  By  the  same  judicious  arrange- 
ments he  was  again  repulsed,  and  ^  few  hours  afterwards 
tiie  Ame^can  squadron  entered  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
took  a  position  near  French  creek,  to  command  the  north 
and  south  channels.  On  the  3d  and  4th  the  rear  of  the 
army  arrived  at  the  general  rendezvous.  On  the  5th,  the 
flotilla  of  tr&nsports  got  under  way,  and  arrived  without 
accident,  below  Morrisville. 

On  the  6th,  the  commander  in  chief  ordered  the  flotilla 
to  descend  witli  the  whole  arr^y,  to  a  point  within  3  miles 
of  Prescott,  And  directed  the  powder  and  Used  ammuni- 
tion to  be  debarked,  and  transported  by  land,  under  cover 
of  the  night,  below  the  enemy's  battenes.  Before  either 
of  these  orders  were  put  in  execution,  he  proceeded  in 
his  gig  (a  smiiU  boat)  to  reconnoitre  the  place,  and  having 
concluded  that  the  safest  passage  of  the  troops  would  be 
effected  on  shore,  he  ordered  me  debarkation  of  every 
man,  except  the  number  necessary  to  navigate  the  boats, 
and  the  army  marched  by  night,  two  miles  l^ow  Prescott. 
Arrangements  were  also  ma^e  for  the  passage  of  the  flo- 
tilla, to  the  samci  point;  and  general  Brown,  being  the  ger 
neral  officer  of  the  day,  was  charged  with  the  superintend- 
ence. Availing  himself  of  a  heavy  fog,  which  came  on  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  tiie  commaQder  in  fshief,  believ- 
ing he  could  pass  the  enemy's  fort  unobserved,  put  the 
flotilla  and  the  marching  columns  in  motion,  at  the  same 
instant;  and  m:oceeded  in  his  gig,  foUpwed  by  his  passage 
boat  and  staff,  ahead  of  the  Former.  An  unexpected 
change^  of  the  atmosphere,  enabled  i^he  enemy's  garrison 
to  discover  the  boats,  and  the  columns  upon  land,  whose 
movements  had  been  simultaneous.  Nearly  fifty  S4  pound 
shot  were  fired  at  the  general's  passage  bdat,  and  the 
columns  were  assailed  with  a  great  number  of  shot  aiid 


OF  THE  LATB  WAR. 


181 


French 
i  a  num- 
{ detacb- 
ownhas- 
kd  after  a 
)elled  to 
had  been 

captains 
lemy  fell 
ittack  on 

arrange- 
rterwards 
mce,  and 
the  north 
;ar  of  the 
e  5th,  the 
d  without 

(he  flotilla 
in  3  milea 
lammuni- 
ider  ciDver 
re  either 
eeded  in 
d  having 
would  oe 
of  every 
theboat«> 
Prescott, 
f  Ihe  flo- 
the  ger 
rintend- 
e  on  at  8 
',  bejiev- 
l,  put  the 
the  same 
Is  passage 
^expected 
garrison 
whose 
pound 
and  the 
shot  apd 


shells.  Neither  of  these  attacks  were  successful;  and 
the  onlj  injury  sustained  by  the  Americans,  was  bnenMUi 
killed,  in  one  of  the  boats.  The  flotilla  had  been  halted  by 
general  Brown,  as  sooH  as  the  flrins  was  heard,  and  it  did 
not  resume  its  course  until  the  setting  of  the  moon ;  when, 
in  attempting  to  pass,  at  the  same  puice,  it  was  attacked 
also.  It  nevertheless  pursued  its  passage  to  the  place  of 
destination,  under  a  heavy,  though  ineffectual  fire,  of  3 
hours.  During  all  this  time,  of  300  boats,  of  which  die 
flotilla  was  comprised,  not  one  was  touched  by  a  ball; 
and  before  10  o'clock  of  the  fth,  they  all  safely  arrived 
at  the  designated  rendezvous.  From  this  place,  the  com- 
mahder  in  chief  forwarded  an  order  to  general  Hampton, 
commandine  the  left  division  of  the  northern  army,  to 
form  a  junction,  with  the  division  then  descending  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

On  the  7th,  the  difficulties  in  this  descent  increased. 
The  indisposition  of  the  general  became  alarming.    The 
poisage  or  the  troops  was  delayed  half  a  day,  in  extrica- 
ting two  schooners  from  the  river  near  Ogden'sburg,  which 
were  loaded  with  provisions,  and  had  been  driven  to  that 
place  by  the  enemy*s  fire.    In  the  course  of  the  mornings 
the  commander  in  chief  had  been  informed,  that  the  coast 
below  was  lined  with  posts  of  artilleiy  and  musketry,  at 
every  narrow  pass  of  the  river.    He,  therefore  detached 
colonel  JHfOomb,  with  the  elite  corps  of  about  1200  men, 
to  remove  these  obstructions.    At  3  in  the  afternoon,  the 
army  followed.    Ihimediately  after  passine  the  first  rapid 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  passage  bmd  of  me  general  was 
again  attacked  by  two  pieces  of  li^ht  artilTery,  which 
colonel  MComb  had  not  nhfl«i-ve(1  iii  his  march.     No 
other  injury  was  done,  however,  than  the  cutting  of  the 
ri^i^  the  attention  of  these  pieces  being  diverted  from 
that  ^ect,  by  lieutenant  colonel  Eustis,  and  a  few  light 
gun  barges,*  between  whom  and  the  enemy,  ^  cannonade 
was  kept  up,  without  effect  on  either  side.    But  major 
Forsyihe,  who  was  in  M^Comb's  rear,  having  landed  nis^ 
riflemen,  and  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  3  pieces  were 
precipitately  earned  away.  About  ^  miles  below  the  town 
of  Hamilton,  the  flotilla  came  too,  and  the  general  receiv- 
ed intelligence  of  colonel  M*Comb  having  routed   the 
enemy  at  a  block  house^  Smiles  lower    The  dragoons 

•  r  ^   -,  ■  Q 


18£ 


HISTORICAL  8K£TGUl!l8 


'   I." 


which  were  attached  to  the  first  division  of  tlie  army^  jiad 
by  this  time  assembled  at  a  place  called  the  White  House, 
situated  at  a  contraction  of  the  river.  On  the  morning 
of  the  .8th,  the  flotilU  proceeded  to  this  point,  and  after 
havinc  ordered  (fpeneru  Brown  to  oo  forward  with  his 
brifsde  to  reinforce  colonel  ftfComb,  and  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  advance  of  the  army,  general  Wilkinson 
directed  the  transportation  of  the  dragoons  across  the  St. 
Lawreiice.  This  business  was  completed  in  the  coursie 
of  the  night. 

Not  long  after  the  descent  of  this  river  was  commc^ 
ced  by  the  American  army,  the  Britisli  troops,  who  had 
been  concentrated  in  the  vicinity  of  Kingston,  having  dis> 
covered  tiiat  that  post  was  not  the  object  of  the  expedi- 
tion, immediately  proceeded  to  Prescott.  The  day  fol- 
lowing that  on  which  the  Americans  had  passed  this  vil- 
lage, the  JBritish  commandant  sent  a  flag  over  to  Ogdens- 
buig,  witn  a  demand  for  the  delivery  of  all  the  public 
property  there,  under  the  penalty  of  the  immediate  d^ 
struction  of  the  town.  Wittiout  waiting,  however,  for  a 
compliance  with  this  demand,  the  enemy  embarked  about 
1500  troops  and  followed  general  Wilkinson's  descent, 
with  an  intention  of  annoying  his  rear.  .  On  the  9th»  they 
had  so  far  gained  upon  it,  as  to  bring  on  a  skirmi^  be- 
tween tiie  American  rilBemen  and  a  party  of  British  mili- 
tia and  Indians.  After  haviiig  killed  one  nian,  the  enemy 
were  completely  repulsed. 

In  the  course  of  this  day,  the  cavalry,  with  4  pieces  of 
artillery,  under  captain  M*Pherson,  were  attached  to  the 
command  of  general  Brown,  who  was  ordered  to  clear 
the  coast  below,  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  "  LopgueStrnt" 
After  being  obliged  to  halt  several  hours,  by  the  rapidity 
of  the  current,  to  enable  general  Brown  to  make  good  his 
march,  in  time  to  cover  we  movement  of  the  flotilla,  ge- 
neral Wilkinson  arrived  at  a  point  called  the  Yellow 
House,  which  stands  near  the  saut      s 

On  the  morning  of  the  10^  he  ordered  general  Brown 
to  prosecute  his  march,  with  all  the  troops  under  his 
command,  except  2pieces  of  artillery  and  tiie  2d  dragoons. 
A  regard  for  the  safety  of  the  men,  induced  the  command- 
ing general  to  nuxrch  as  many  of  them  as  possible,  as  tiie 
passage  of  the  Longiu  8aut  would  be  dangerous.  This 
regiment,  therefore,  'a  well  as  all  the  men  of  the  other 


OT  THB  LATE  WAlt. 


If3 


e  army^Jiad 
Tiaic  HuuBe, 
the  morning 
t,  and  after 
ird  with  his 

0  take  com- 
Wilkinson 

cross  the  St. 

1  the  course 

"as  commc^- 
ps,  who  had 
,  having  dis< 
the  expedi- 
rhe  day  fol- 
sed  this  vil- 
r  to  Ogdens- 
il  the  public 
^mediate  ^ 
wever,  for  a 
tarked  abotut 
m's  descent, 
the  901,  they 
kirmish  be* 
British  mill- 
the  enemy 

4  pieces  of 
ched  to  the 
ed  to  clear 
^gue  Saut." 
he  rapidity 
ke  good  his 
flotilla,  ge- 
he  Yellow 

ral  Brown 
under  his 
I  dragoons, 
command- 
»le»  as  the 
HIS.  This 
the  other 


brigades,  with  the  reservation  of  a  proper  number  to  na- 
vigate the  boats,  were  assigned  to  general  Bo^,  who 
was  ordered  to  takenecessair  precautions  to  prevent  the 
enemy  hanging  on  the  rear,  from  making  an  advantage- 
ous attack;  and  if  attacked,  to  turn  upon,  and  if  possitSe, 
to  beat  them.  Oeneral  Brown,  in  obedience  to  tnese  or- 
ders, marched  with  the  advance,  then  consisting  of  about 
1800  men,  and  composed  principally  of  iiolonerAfCbni^s 
artillery,  some  companies  of  colonel  Scott's  r^ment, 
part  of  the  light  artillery,  the  riflemen,  and  the  6th,  15th, 
and  22d  regiments.  At  a  block  house  near  the  6aut, 
which  had  been  erected  to  harass  the  flotilla  in  its  de- 
scent, he  was  engaged  by  a  strong  party  of  the  enemy, 
with  whom  he  contender^  tor  a  few  minutes,  and  atlengm 
compelled  them  to  retire.  This  repulse  was  eff'eoted  en- 
tirely by  major  Forsythe,  who  w'as  severely  wounded  in 
the  engagement.  Ueneral  Brown  then  took  a  position 
near  the  toot  of  the  satU,  At  the  same  time  a  number  of 
&itish  gallieslEtnd  gun  boats  approached  the  flotilla,  now 
at  the  shore,  and  commenced  a  cannonade.  The  galley 
mounted  a  lotig  S4^under,  which  materially  injurra  the 
Aknerican  barges,  and  it  became  necessary  to  run  two 
18-pounders  on  shore,  and  form  a  battery  to  resist  the 
enemy's  attack.  One  shot  from  this  battery  obliged  the 
British  to  retire  up  the  river;  and  it  bein^  then  too  late  to 
trust  the  flotilla  to  the  saiit»  the  current  in  which  allows 
no  chance  to  land,  or  to  pursue  any  other  than  its  own 
course,  the  barees  lay  too  until  the  morning  of  ^e  11th. 

At  10  o*cl6cK  on  that  day,  the  flotilla  was  prepared  to 
sail ;  and  the  division  Unde j*  general  Boyd,  consisting  of 
his  own,  and  generals  Covington  and  Swartwout's  bri- 
gades, was  already  fonMed  in  marching  order,  when  an 
alarm  was  heard  nrom  the  gim-bqAts,  and  the  command- 
ing general  was  apprised  that  the  enemy  were  advancing 
in  columii.  The  increasing  indisposition  of  general  Wil- 
kinson rendered,  him  incapu>le  of  taking  the  field.  Gene- 
ral Lewis  having  declined  the  command,  in  consequence 
of  being  ill  also,  general  Boyd  was  ordered  to  turn  upon^ 
and  attack  the  fe^iti&h  force.  The  enemas  gun-boats 
were  advaftciiig  at  the  same  time,  with  a  view  to  attack 
the  rear  of  the  flotilla,  as  soon  as  it  should  move  ofi>-* 
The  oflicers  hav?t»pr  it  in  charge,  wew  therefore  directed 
not  tO'l«ive  t'"     Sore.    Gen«til  Boyd  advanced  upon 


"i"»ll^P'!Jv 


1S4 


HISTORICAL  SI^ETCHBS 


the  enemy,  wi^  his  detachment,  formed  in  3  columns, 
and  forwaiiled  a  body  of  general  Swartwout's  brigade, 
consisting  of  the  Slat  regiment,  to  'meet  and  bring  the 
enemy. to  action.  Colcmel  Ridley,  with  this  regiment, 
ranged  through  the  woods,  which  in  a  semicircle,  skirt- 
edChryStl^s field,  and  drove  in  several  parties  of  the 
skirmishers.  Upon  entering  the  open  field,  he  discovered 
the  British  advance,  consisting  of  the  49th  and  Gleneary 
regiments.  With  tiiese  he  immediately  commenced  an 
action, ,  in  which  he  twice  chained  these  united  regi- 
ments, ei^er  of  which  was  more  than  equal  to  the  9.1  st, 
and  drove  them  over  the  ravines  and  fences  by  which 
Chrystlei^  field  was  intersected;  when  they  fell  upon 
^eir  main  body.  Meanwhile,  general  Covin^n  nad 
advanced  upon  the  enemy's  right,  where  his  artmery  had 
been  planted;  and  at  the  moment  when  the  21st  assailed 
the  British  vleft  flank,  this  brigade  forced  tiie  right  by  a 
vigorous  onset,  and  the  result  of  the  action  was  now  look- 
ea  to  with  great  certainty.  The  ^lant  c^dUct  of  gene- 
ral Covington  attracted  the  attention  of  a  party  of  snarp- 
shooters  stationed  in  Chrjatler's  house,  one  of  ivhom 
levelled  his  piece  and  shot  him  from  his  horse.    The  wound 

S roved  to  be  mortal,  and  in  two  days  afber  the  eeneral 
ied.  The  fall  of  their  commander  threw  that  brigade 
into  confusion,  and  it  very  soon  tHt)ke  before  the  enemy's 
artillery;  and  toother  with  the  16th,  took  shelter  be- 
hind the  21st,  which  were  still  engaged  with  the  British 
left  and  centre.  Four  pieces  of  artillery  had  been  planted 
to  enJUade  the  enemy's  rightj  but  out  of  reach  of  sup- 
port; and,  when  Covington's  brigade  feH  back,  the  Bri- 
tish commander  wheeled  part  of  his  line  into,  column,  to 
attack  and  capture  them.  A  body  of  dragoons,  under 
the  adjutant  general  Walbach,  attempted,  in  a  very  gal- 
lant manner  to  charge  the  British  column,  but  the  nature 
of  the  ground  prevented  its  being  checked,  and  the  in- 
tervention of  the  21st,  between  the  cannon  and  the  ene- 
my, alone  retarded  his  advance.  I'he  British  then  fell 
bsMck  with  muth  precipitation.  The  25th,  which  had 
been  disordered,  was  at  this  time  in  a  ravine;  and  on  all 
parts  of  the  field,  skirmishes  and  detached  battlea  were 
kept  up  with  various  success.  The  21st  being  out  of  am- 
munition, was  withdrawn  from  the  exposed  positions  of 
the  ground,  and  a  second  attempt  was  soon  after  made 


columi^B, 
8  brigade, 
bring  the 
re^ment, 
cle,  skirt- 
ies  of  the 
iiscovered 
Glensary 
nenced  an 
lited  regi- 
0  the  9,\st, 
by  which 
fell  upon 
ngton  nad 
tiuer  J  had 
st  assailed 
right  by  a 
now  look- 
ctofffene- 
f  of  sharp- 
>  of  ^hom 

Ehe  wound 
e  seneral 
it  brigade 
le  enemr'is 
ihelter  be^ 
he  British 
sn  planted 
)h  of  sup- 
,  the  Bri- 
olttHin,  to 
IS,   under 

very  gal- 
he  nature 
id  the  itt- 

the  ene- 

then  fell 
Ihich  had 
Ind  on  all 

le»  were 
of  ani- 

utions  of 
tter  made 


'«r  T^  ULini '  Wah^  ' 


lt5 


ijp««r  tfie  caniion.  The  d^th  rf  Iwutenant  WilKam  Wf? 
SmitH/oftbft  light  iirtiUeiT,  Who  conMnanded  du«  piece^ 
enabled  1he^«neiny  «6  caMttfe  the  Mytro^yib^  bfih 
taitted.  t%6  coolncHss  ana  brav^  of  i^uitain  Aintis^ong 
Irvine,  sated  the  refnaimng  pieces,  whi<£  he  brought  off 
the  "field.  The  action  immemfttelj^  alter  ceased.  It  h^ 
been  fought  with  distii^uished  gallaAtry,  by  about  1700 
undiscipmH^  men,  against  the  aatne  ntiniber  of  Bntliali 
veterans,  and  its  duration  w«b  uptrards  of  two  hours;  The 
enemy's  force  consisted  of  detachments  fr6m  the  4dth, 
S90\,  104th,  the  voltigeurs,  and  the  Glengairy  regiment 
These  retired  to  their  encampment,  and  lie  Americans 
to^eir  boatsi 

The  Amiericah  loss  oil  Ihis  occa^n  amounted  to  33^ 
102  ef  whofHi  were  killed;  amone  tiiese  weie  lieutenanti 
Smith,  Hunter,  and  Olmstead:  the  loss  in  wounded  was 
swdled  by  the  rank  and  worth  of  the  officer^  on  that  list 
genentllJovitigton ;  colonel  Preston ^miyors  Chambers^ 
and  Cnmmlnffs;  and  captains  Foster,  Townsend,  Mvers, 
and  Campbell,  bfcittg  among  the  oflkers  composing  it:  ^ 
those  wiio  distinguished  themseltes,  none  were  more  con- 
spicuous thun  ca))tain  Irvitie*  and  lieutenant  Mahon  of  the 
16th,  who  planted  the  first  American  ensign  on  the  Cana.- 
dian  shere  at  the  assault  and  capture  of  fort  Geoi^ 
^\ln  this  battle,  the  victory  #as  claimed  on  bom  sides. 
An  impartial  examination  of  the  result,  however,  will  lead 
to  Ihie conclusldti  tiiat  it  was  a  drawn  battle;  or  tliat,  if 
aniT'advaiiti^s  oei^rred  to  either  party,  they  were  de^ 
^i^Mly  gA$ifted  by  the  •  Ameriicand.  Ine  front  of  the  ene? 
m^  had  been  forced  back  more  than  a  mile  in  the  early 
p^'of  the'aetion,  and  it  never  regained  tiie  ground  thus 
lost.  To  lise  the  words  of  the  American  general,  his 
vie^'  add  theise  of  the  British  <5ommimder.  "were  pre- 
cisely opposed,  "the  first  being  boUcJi  by  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  government,  and  the  most  iM^emn  pbligatiotls 
of  duty,  to  precipitate  his  descent  of  the  St  Lawrence,  by 
eve^y  practicaUe  means:  and  the  last,  by  equally  impe- 
rious duties,  to  retard,  and  if  possible,  to  prevent  such  de- 
scent If  then,  he  j[^e  British  commander)  .found  him* 
seK  victorious  on  this  day,  it  was  certainly  in  his  power 
to  have  effected  the  one  or  t^a  other  ol^ect  and  as  he 
made  no  attempt  ^)  effect  either,  it  follows  incontestibly 
that  he  had  no  foii  ground  on  which  to  claim  a  victory.** 

Q2 


Mf 


m 


HISTQRig^^  i^U^TCaSS 


So  fiur  from  oMnictipg  IJlie  iiiirther  descent  of  th^  xivsr^ 
ikhejeneiny  umer  apun  aisailed  the  coliwui  ufwniaMfOr 
th«  bftc^of  the  flotiUa.  Early  m  the  mormug  of  jtfae 
l2ih,  the  an^y  proceeded  on  ita  route^  aod  reached  Barn- 
hart,  near  Comwidl.  w))ere  it  r^oined  the  advaiice.  At 
tbUjBJlace  general  lyillunsflin  rkeiveda  lettor  fk-om  geae'- 
ral  lumpton,  in  which  he  deelin^d  a  meeting  at  St.  Re- 
als, the  {dace  named  in  ithe  ordera  which  had  Been  sent  to 
mm  on  the  0thi  and  informed  the  commander  in  cluef 
t|uit  he  intjended  to  i|»areh  to  lake  Champlain,  and  thence 
to  c6-o^erate  in  the  attack  upon  Montreal  General  Wil- 
kinson immjediatelyconi^luded  that  it  would  be  useless  to 
prosecute  his  route  to  Montreal  any  further,  and  that  every 
prospctct  of  a  dj^sirable  termination  of  the  campaign  was 
destroyed.  He  therefore  summoned  together  me  princi- 
pal officers  of  that  diTiuoh  of  the  army*  with  which  he 
was  aictin|^  who  determined  that  the  receipt  of  this  des- 
patch, rendered  it  ei^pedient  that  the  army  should  quit 
the  Canadian  side  of  the  St.  liawren^,  anq  go  into  wiii- 
ter  quarters  at  French  Mills,  pn  Salmon  river,  wMch  it 
accordin^y  diid  on,  the  13th  instant  After  having  sur- 
mounted many  ^i^qus  difficulties,  in  the  descent  of  a 
liver,  crowded  with  various  obstructions,  the  fiirther  pror 
secution  of  its  passa^  was  tl^s  entirely  abandoned^  by 
the  united  determination  of  thj^  commander  in  chief,  and 
his  council  of  war.  ,     ^  .1 , . . , .   ,, . ,  .^  ^ 

Whether  the  refusal  of  general  Qamptipii  to  ibrm  a 
junction  with  j^neral  Wilkinsoi),  at  the  pt*  R«gis,  instead 
of  adopting  his  own  plan  of  nuurching  by  Ghamplainand 
Cognawago,  should  luive  prevented  tiie  prosecutipn  <^  the 
campaign  to  its  original  object,  does  not  come  within  the 
province^  these  sketches  to  discuss.  It  is  the  business 
of  thpjmter  of  them  to  be  studiously  impartial,  and  he 
does  Mi  hesitate  to  acknowledge  his  belief,  that  many  cir- 
cumstances are  vet  to  transpire,  before  the  public  opinion 
can  be  regulatecL 

Whilst  general  Wilkinson  was  engaged,  in  concentrat- 
ing the  left  division  of  the  army  at  Grenadier  bland,  pre- 
nvatory  to  the  descent  of  the  St  Lawrence,  ffei^eral 
Hampton  hiad  determined  on  laoving  ther  right  cuviaion 
from  Champhdn  down  the  Chateaugay,for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  situation,  from  which  it  could  with  more  fa- 
cility co-opeiate  in  the  contemplated  movements  against 


dug  of  .jtfae 

^ance.    At 
firoiBgeBfi'' 

at  8t.Re- 
een  s^nt  to 
er  in  chkf 
and  thence 
;neral  Wil- 
i  useless  to 
1  that  every 
npaign  was 

me  princi- 
b  which  he 
of  thisdes- 
ikould  quit 
|o  into  win- 
»r»  which  it 
having  sm*- 
Bscent  of  a 
iirther  pro^ 
ndoned,  by 
1  chief,  and 

to  fonn  a 
ds,  iii6tea4 


^F  «i«B  UlTIS  war. 


U7 


|itip9  of  the 
within  the 

^e  business 

(al,  and  he 
many  cir- 

^ic  opinion 

oncentrat- 
^laiul,  pre- 
i,  ffeQ.eral 
uviaion 
purpose  of 
more  fa- 
against 


Mon<x«aL  On  <he  2|$t of  Oetdhar  he  put  hit  tro#p«^ 
motion,  having  first  arranged' t  line  of  conllnulliel^lttl^as 
&r  up  the  ^  Lawrence  as  Ogdensburg^  An  exle^ve 
woodr^lied  with  hewn  iimber,  and  covered  with'^>  In- 
dians and  the  enemy's  lig^t  tro<|ps,  threw  aa  impediment 
in  the  way  of  the  engineers^  wh«  were  to  out  a  coad  ftr 
Ihe  passage  of  the  artillery  and  stores.  Oenend  Iznd 
had  beeti  d^taehtd  with  the  fight  troopa^  and  ent  r^- 
ment  from  the  line,  to  turn  them  in  fiimk,  and  to  seise 
on  the  open  countiy  below.  In  this  he  succeeded;  and 
the  main  army,  advancing  on  a  circuitous  read,  reached 
the  advanced  position  on  the  evenmg  of  fthe  ^dw  At  a 
distance  of  seven  miles  from  the  sround  on  Ivhich  the 
army  encamp^,  was  a  wood  which  had  been  formed  into 
an  ii66a^  and  was  fiUed  with  a .  succession  of  breaii- 
works,  the  rearmost  of  which  wa»  wril  siippU^  with 
ordiiancek  Bthioid  these,  the  di^oeable  force  of  the  ene- 
my wasv^aced;  in  front  of  them  the  Ug^t  ^oops  and  In- 
(mn8#  ^  liooi^ J^vost  w^  sttpBo&d  to>bi  the  eom- 
mander  in  chiefi  of  tho  foisces  and  nreastworks  thila  ar^ 
rangnd*  It  waa  i^esolved  tn  ii^taek  ai^?dialod^  tmn.  Co- 
lonel Purdy,  who  commanded  the  1st  brisade,  waiordeKed 
on  the  iS^lIii  tti  fiird  th^  river,  and  march  4ow9  en  ita  op- 
nosMe  aide,<iintil  he  shoiddroadiitlia  enemy's  rear*  whece 
he  WW loreeiiMfi^  npreriand  i#fieh  hii»ui hiabieait- 
worte  9vhiJl«t  the.  9d  boAdb*  ;i»ider  gc^erld  luirdi  was 
to  a8saU4iitn$j«f^mnt. ;  lle.irei6^  one  was  to  W  the 
iignak  of  atti^ltlM*  tfaof  other.  ^  .CeiMmel  Purdy  according^ 
marched  down  on  ^e  opposi^iffAl^biut  haa.not  poctm- 
ed  far*  when  he  received  a  countermaiidtng  orffer  f;xim 
^nerai  Hampton,  issued  in  consequence  of  a  eommuniea- 
tiott  ^m  the  ()tt&rter  master  aeneral'a  department,  winch 
the  gwert^  decerned  unfavottrfMi>le  to  tht  prosecution  of  Ms 


hk  ftttemptiiig  to  return  to  .#ie  pia<^  at  which,  he  had 
previously  crossed  the  river,  coloiusl  Pwdly  was  attacked 
by  the  enemy's  in&ntry  and  IndUans,  iWio  were  repulsed, 
aner  a  short  contest,  though  they  had  .tlut>wn  the  Ameri- 
can column  into  partial  confusion.  The  British  at  the 
same  time  came  out  of  their  works,  to  attack  the  Sd  bri- 
gade on  the  opposite  side.  They  were  repulsed  at  tins 
point  also,  ana  general  Izard  drove  them  rapidly  behind 
their  defences.    Tlie  1st  brigade  attempted  the  construe- 


188 


mmmm 


niawmmu.'smm>Tcwmfi 


ito^ifi  *tMiibeof  iog^'MMi^^^  it>#ag  Assailed  by^ 
conftdenUe  mce  of  the  Brtttih  fvgiilirs,  ind  receivedva 
slittr^v.Are  acit>8»tiie  river, ^e  brieve  was  completed}  atid 
coionel  ^itrd j  recrossed  fiis  m^i  He  was  again  atteek* 
ed/and  aevend  times  reaistMl  ^e  thiurges'of  t}M«iiemy; 
T^earmy  ctioimeiiced  a  retreat,  afler  losiifg  abdut^tjr 
men;  and  a#|;enerat  Hampton  received  an  aeconnt  of 
the^  enem^' iemg  conttnoaUjr  reinforced,  he  iNssohed,  on 
thtf^vicenf  4k  «<Minfii)^tfiM  retreat  to  the  Four  Corners; 
*nie  amy,  accord^igi3r$ion  the  Slst;  returned*  to' 'a  |iosi» 
tiiA  wfaidi  it  held  many  days  before.  -In  theieViunOii» 
skirmishea,  majors  SneUing  and  Wool  wo^  pwrticularly 
diitinguished* 

A  jgettte^^tterfe  was  kept  up' on  the  tines  b^  Col*  Clark, 
who  oMiRiMided  a  rcviment  of  Mantry,  acting  as  rifle- 
itaen,  wliieh  bid  airea<fyj  on  several  important  oeca^ons^ 
been  of  great  annbyanoe  to  the  «nenm<  Bit  this  inctnr^ 
slvowarniie  was  sto^^^  soon  after  tike  retnttiof  gene^ 
raft  Haihpton^  divisinii/and  alllhe  ti^ooptnnder  Ms  com*' 
mand  Hrere  put  into  winter  qnarter^,  in  iBe'conrse'ef  4he 
mcilith  of  Nvrember,  and' the  comtnMid  ttsi^ned  iapiM* 

Noi  hn^  alier'ifa^<ie^i)rtiiii^'tff  giki^rat  Wililnion#Qiiii 
iavt  Oeotwei  that;  |)Oil!^  tell  eadskiive^  lb' tiie  4ieininMM| 
of  "liQ^nfii  8cott^>  g^nii^  Umi^»mi  nM  mmmiW&kLM 
ol^ildW^¥ol#  militill^1Mlii^^uit)^  ^^^iAsM^€nf^mtt 
sklnalBhes  toeik  tdaoiei  In^iiM^^  theie^^i^^ 
with  th(r€anidi&  ^v^kthmer  UMiiintell  t^^l^biili^  behiMfiid 
with  peirstfnal  bi^v#y^Mia!id'gifi>«iatt  ttufecn^^f  theWvkies 
w^h  vtb«  AmerieafI  goveramerit  mlgKt  mpitsb  tl-oMHliis 
new^speeiesoftroopii^-'-^^i''''  ■-  ■ 
4»  On  the  iOlik  Decend)«drt^81d>,  it  was  ascertained  that 
the  mtemf'  had  eollected  a  fewse  of  I'5li0teelilttrs,  and  at 
least  700  Indians,  and  were  proceeding  on  uieir  march  ^ 
fort  Geoig^to  etpeMlis  A^erieaiiis  froth  the  gurriioniind 
the^slMires;  The  reninani<of  an  army,  ^f  whi«h  iheearri^ 
sen  %ras  at  that  time  conipOiBed,  rendered  the  pedt  altoge- 
ther untenable^  and  general  BlChire  determined  on  de- 
stroying the  town  of  Newark,  and  the  batteries  Ir^  which 
it  was  protected,  and  evacuating  fort  George,  wdth  a  view 
to  postmg  himself  at  fort  Niagara^  Accoraingly,  having 
first  »vett  the  inhabitants  fiill  notice  of  his  intentions,  he 
put  mm  int6  executkin^  and  crossed  his  foroe  over  to 


or  THE  LATE  VfAR, 


189 


A(«d  by  * 

EK^tiiwdl^  ft 

etediattd 
in  atteek* 

bottt^ty 

BCOIlBt  of 

)oW«d»<iii 
•  Corners; 
30  a  |>o8i^ 
ie  i^riouft 
rtiettlarly 

>oLClarki 
V  as  rifle- 
oecasloBft, 

llof  geUe* 
r  his  com* 
rseof  4hc( 
I  to  tfKtte^ 

irottitliis 

'miiA-  that 
■t»,aiiid  lit 
inarch i0 
risOttind 
thc'ttarri* 
^aHoae- 
»d  on  ffe- 
Irf  which 
tha  Vir^ 
y.  having 
itions,  he 
over  to 


the  American  shore.  Newark  was  left  in  flames*  and 
the  j^ns  of  fort  George  were  rendered  useless.  Hie 
British  forces  arrived  only  in  time  to  find  tiiemselves 
without  shdter,  and  were  obliged  to  fall  back  to  Queens- 
town.  From  this  place  general  MClure  attempted  to 
dislodge  them,  by  the  batteries  at  Lewistown,  Imt  without 
effect.  '  •; 

The  British  commander  became  highly  incensed  at  the 
destruction  of  the  town  of  Newark,  and  secretly  resolved 
on  the  conflagration  of  Buffiiloe,  Schlosser,  and  Lewis- 
town,  and  the  capture  of  fort  Niag^ira;  the  garrison  of 
which  they  destined  to  be  put  to  the  sword.  A  surmiso 
of  these  intentions  of  the  enemy,  induced  the  American 
commander  to  transfer  his  head  quarters  to  Buffaloes  to 
which  place  he  immediately  set  out,  to  provide  fimr  the 
protection  of  its  citizens,  and  called  forth  the  neighbour^ 
ingmilitia  en fiuuse.  <  ' 

Fort  Niagara  was  at  this  time  garrisoned  by  3^  sick 
and  effective  men,  and  was  commanded  by  captain  Leo- 
nard, of  the  artillery,  who,  notwithstanding  the  notorious 
fact  of  the  enemy  being  within  two  hour's  inarch  of  the 
fort,  neglected  to  provide  against  an  assault,  by  night, 
and  on  me  evening  of  the  18th,  took  up  his  quarters  at 
a  farm,  2  miles  distant  from  his  command.  At  4  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  enemy,  400  in  numijlier, 
crossed  theNia&ara,  under  colonel  Murray,  and  approach- 
ed the  principal  gate,  which  was  then  open.  Accompa- 
nied by  his  Indian  warriors,  he  rushed  furiously  in  upon 
tiie  garrison,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  put  an  end  to  all  op- 
position. The  only  resistance  which  was  made,  he  re- 
ceived from  the  guard  in  the  southeast  block  house,  and 
the  sick,  who  crawled  out  from  their  beds.  What  officers 
were  within  the  fort,  exhausteu  every  means  of  defence, 
of  which  the  suddenness  of  the  attack  had  net  deprived 
them.  On  entermg  the  garrison,  colonel  Murray  recdved 
a  wound  in  the  arm;  soon  after  which  he  yielded  the 
command  to  colonel  Jlamilton-'-under  whose  superin- 
tendence, tiK  women  of  the  nrrison  were  stript  of  their 
clothing  and  many  of  them  killed,  and. the  persons  of  the 
dead  cheers  treated  with  shocking  indignity.  In  the 
meantime,  captain  I^eonard  arrived,  and  was  made  pri- 
soner ;  and  out  of  the  whole  number  of  troops  in  the  gaii* 
rison,  20  only  effected  their  escape.    The  British  flag 


196 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


was  iimnediatelv  after  unfurled,  and  the  enemy  had  the 
entire  commana  of  the  entrance  to  the  Niagara.   *  \^ 

In  the  course  of  the  same  morning  about  70(K  Indians 
made  an  attack  upon  Lewistown,  which  was  defended  foy 
a  small  determent  of  militia,  under  major  Bennett,  who 
resisted  tihe  asndlants,  until  he  was  entirely  surrounded, 
and  then  desperately  cut  his  way  through,  with  the  loiss 
of  8  men,  and  effected  his  retreat.  This  village,  and 
tiiose  of  Young's  town,  Manchester,  and  the  Indian  Tm- 
carora,  were  speedUy  reduced  to  ashei^B.  Whilst  the  In- 
dians were  engaged  in  firing  Lewistown,  major  Mallory 
boldly  advanced  frttm  Schlosser,  and  attacked  their  outer 
guara  at  Lewistown  heights,  and  compelled  it  to  fall  back 
to  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  The  Indians  were  soon  re- 
inforced, however,  and  the  gallailt  Mallory  was  in  turn 
dbli^ed  to  retire.  He  retreated  gradually  to  Tantawantp 
creek,  occasionally  turning  upon,  and  nghting  their  ad- 
vance guard,  for  2  days;  at  the  end  of  which  time,  the 
Indians  eave  up  the  pursuit  In  these  afl&irs,  major  M[al- 
iory  lostlieutenant  Lowe,  of  the  23d  infantry,  and  8  men. 

ueneral  M'Clure,  having  collected  nearly  SOOO  militia 
at  Buf&loe,  left  them  uiraer  the  command  of  general 
Hall,  and  repaired  to  the  villase  of  Batavia,  alMut  28 
nules  from  Bnfialoe,  to  provide  for  its  protection  against 
a  sa|Iy  from  fort  Niasara.  He  had  previously  sent  lieu- 
ti^pUt  Baddle  to  that  place,  with  alt  the  regulars  in  the 
v^t^ty,  amounting' in  the  whole  to  80  men,  to  secure  the 
pttbHc  arsenal.  On  his  arrival  at  Batavia,  after  having 
organized  a  body  of  militia- there,  he  ordered  the  regulars 
back  to  Bttflaloe,  to  encourage  by  their  example,  the  un- 
disciplined troo]^  of  his  division. 

On  the  30th  (DeeemberX  the  British  landed  650  m^h  at 
Black  Rock,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  the  village  of 
Buffiiloe.  Before  they  reached  it,  however,  they  were  ob- 
stinately opposed  by  colonel  Bleeksly,  and  2  or  300  raw 
and  unaisciplined  militia.  General  Hall  had'  fallen  back 
about  three  miles  from  BulUoe,  when  his  force  Was  rate 
by  lieutenant  ^Riddle  and  his  regulars.  The^ritieh  had 
already  entered  the  village,  and  the  militm  fled  wi^  the 
greatest  precipitation.  Riddle  offered  to  march  with  his 
regulars  m  front,  and  thus  to  excite  the  tatiiid  militia,  to 
rqvttlse  the  enemy,  and  drive  him  from  the  village.  But 
the  general,  yielding  to  the  unwllliitgness  of  the  men,  do^ 


UF  TUB  LATE  WAB« 


191 


my  had  the 
.ra.  '  \'> 
roo  Indians 
lefended  by 
ennett,  who 
surrounded, 
ith  the  loss 
village,  and 
Indian  TVs- 
hilst  the  In- 
Lior  Mallory 
I  their  outer 
to  fall  back 
ere  soon  re- 
was  in  turn 
Tantawanty 
ng  tiieir  ad- 
cn  time,  the 
,  major  IVf  al- 
',  and  8  men. 
SOOO  militia 

of  general 
a,  alMut  2S 
;tion  against 
ly  sent  lieu- 
[ularsin  the 
o  secure  the 
after  having 
the  regulars 

}le,  the  un- 

650  m^n  at 
le  village  of 
ey  were  ob- 
or  300  raw 
fallen  back 
'ce  Was  mtc 
\Britieh  had 
ed  with  the 
'ch  with  his 
militia,  to 
ilage.  But 
le  men,  d^ 


clined  the  proposal  of  the  regular  officer,  who,  thereupon, 
rode  towards  the  village  to  reconnoitre.    He  advai^ed 
within  half  a  mile  of  ito  suburbs,  and  seeing  that  with  a 
handful  of  spirited  men  he  could  himself  save  the  place 
from  destruction^  he  returned  to  general  Hall,  and  en- 
treated him  to  place  200  men  under  his  command,  with 
whom  he  promised  at  least  to  rescue  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, who  would  otherwise  be  sacrificed  by  the  Indmns, 
if  not  to  drive  out  the  enemy.  General  Hall  thought  diis 
plan  was  impracticable.    lieutenant  Riddle,  therefore, 
was  preventeck  from  attempting  it    By  the  exertion  of 
miyor  Staunton  and  major  Norton,  each  of  whom  belong- 
ed to  the  village,  abcwt  200  men  were  collected,  and  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  combat  the  British  and  In- 
dians.   These  were  advised,  that  it  was  in  vain  to  at- 
tack their  enemy,  and  this  advice  was  sanctioned  by  the 
general.  At  lengdi,  having  become  ^uite  indisnant  at  the 
timidity  of  tiie  militia,  lieutenant  Riddle  took  upon  him- 
self the  responsibility  of  going  forward  with  his  oWn  men, 
and  of  rescuing  as  much  public  property  as  they  could 
lyear  away.    He  entered  tne  upper  ^t  of  the  villi^, 
where  he  was  informed  by  a  citizen,  tiiat  colonel  Chamn, 
who  had  long  before  the  flight  of  the  militia,  been  oraer- 
ed  to  take  post  at  Conejockeda  creek,  had  surrendered 
the  place  to  the  enemy,  under  the  condition  ^iMt  tibey 
were  to  plunder,  but  not  to  bum  it   The  Indians  w«4^m 
that  moment  firing  the  houses.    Lieutenant  Riddle,  MBa 
30  men,  tiien  took  from  the  arsenal,  which  had  not  been 
discovered  by  the  enemy,  about  300  stand  of  arms,  and 
some  other  public  property,  and  having  made  two  Indian 

?risoners,  returned  to  the  position  occupied  by  general 
lalL 

On  the  following  day,  January  tst  (1814),  a  »nall  party 
of  dragoons  were  ordered  in  advance  of  the  whole  miliFtia, 
which  general  Hall  marched  to  the  vicinity  of  the  villasc!, 
in  order  to  make  a  show  of  force.  €aptain  Stime,  i^o 
commanded  the  advance,  accfnnpanied  by  lieutenant  Rid-^ 
die,  lieutenant  Totman,  of  the  Canadian  volunteers^  and 
lieutenant  Frazer  of  the  15th  reeiment,  infantry,  made 
several  prisoners  on  the  marnn  ot  the  vilUge,  and  having^ 
delivered  them  to  the  genenu,  the  latter  immediately  <Mr- 
dered  his  whole  force  to  retire,  and  called  In  the  advance 
%  that  purpose*    Riddle  and  Totman,  not  knowing  that 


192 


HISTORICAL  SILBTCHE8 


I 


the  dragoons  had  fallen  back,  were  left  in  the  near  neigh- 
bourhoM  of  the  enemy,  and  upon  being  discovered  by  a 
8quadr<ni  of  the  British  horse,  Vney  immediately  put  spurs 
to  their  own,  and  attempted  to  escape  toward  the  rendezr 
vous  oi  ^neral  Hall's  brigade.  They  very  soon  outstrip- 
ped their  pursuers,  and  were  congratulating  themselves 
upon  their  supposed  escape,  when  another  squadron  of 
the  enemy  were  perceived  coming  out  of  the  road,  lead- 
ins  from  Black  Kock,  and  directine  their  course  for  Buf- 
fafoe,  between  which  and  that  road.  Riddle  and  Totman 
then  were.  Thus  hemmed  in,  on  a  narrow  highway, 
with  a  superior  enemy  in  front,  and  in  the  rear,  they  saw 
no  probable  prospect  of  escaping,  and  would  have  ^ven 
themselves  up,  but  for  the  Ix^tment  which  other  prison- 
ers on  the  l^lWara  had  recently  received,  and  tiie  prac- 
tice, which  had  about  this  time  commenced,  of  nuudng 
hostages.  No  alternative  seemed  to  present  itself,  but 
that  of  cutting  their  way  throu^  the  party  in  their  front; 
and  on  thib  they  mutually  resonred.  On  their  attempting 
to  dash  through,  with  ^dent  impetuosity,  the  whole  party 
dischaiged  their  pistols  at  them,  one  only  of  which  took 
effect,  and  the  unfortunate  Totman  fell  from  his  horse. 
Riddle  cut  through  with  his  sword,  and  having  gained  their 
rear,  pushed  his  horse  through  a  narrow  lane  on  the.  left, 
and  rode  into  a  tiiick  swamp,  terminated  bv  a  forest 
Thf0ugh  this  the  enemy  did  not  choose  to  rollow  him, 
arid  he  arrived  ai.the  head  quarters  of  the  general  on  the 
same  day,  without  having  met  with  other  obstacles. 

In  It  few  days  after,  the  British  evacuated  all  the  posi- 
tions tiiey  had  captured,  except  fort  Niagara.  This,  they 
put  in  a  better  state  of  defence,  and  from  it  they  made 
nrequent  incursions,  which  were  ever  attended  by  acts  of 
violence  upon  the  neighbouring  inhabitants. 

Tlie  campaign  of  1813.  in  mt  north,  was  now  drawn  to 
its  &ial  close ;  and  thoi^  the  American  arms  had  attain- 
ed a  high  degree  of  reputation,  no  one  advantage  was 
obtained,  to  atone  for  the  blood  and  treasure,  which  had 
already  been  exhausted.  The  capital  of  Upper  Canada 
had  been  taken.  It  was  scarcely  captured.  Wore  it  was 
abandoned.  The  bulwark  of  the  pr^  ^nce,  fort  Georee, 
had  been  gallantly  carried;  but  an  infeiiorfoe  was  suffer- 
ed to  escape,  after  being  beaten;  and  the  conquerors  were 
soon  after  confined  to  the  works  of  the  garrison,  and 


IH 


near  neigh- 
▼ered  by  a 
y  put  gpurs 
the  rendezr 
m  outstrip- 
themselves 
quadron  of 
road,  lead- 
-se  for  Buf- 
id  Totman 
V  highway, 
;  they  saw 
blave  ^ven 
her  pnson- 
1  the  prac- 
of  making 
itself,  but 
their  front; 
attempting 
irhole  party 
which  took 
i  his  horse, 
^ned  their 
m  the.  left, 
f  a  forest 
oUow  him, 
ral  on  the 
cles. 

1  the  posi- 

|Thi8,  they 

hey  made 

by  acts  of 

drawn  to 
Lad  attain- 
|taee  was 
which  had 
|r  Canada 
>re  it  was 
George, 
\s»  suSer- 
irswere 
m,  and 


V  ■■^-■I 


'J  ^ 


'■,Y.^- 


*■  / 


/ 


.--*?.  ..'o-' 


ml  'J- 


% 


U  ' 


^ 

^ 


13) 


OT  T^B  1.ATE  WAH. 


193 


closely  mvested  upwards  of  six  months.  The  lonffcon- 
template  attack  upon  Montreal,  was  Ihistmtdl;  Kine- 
ston  iitiU  rjHnained,  a  safe  and  advantage^Mis  l|artHmr,  m 
the  hands  of  the  enemy;  and  a  fortress,  which  misht  have 
been  long  and  obstinately,  and  eflEectiudlT  defend,  was 
yieldisd,  with  scarcely  a  stmn^e,  and  uhder  circumstances 
mytteriMs  iir  the  extreme,  to  the  Tetaliating  invaders  of 
the  American  Niagara  frontier.  In  the  course  of  the  sum- 
mer of  1$1S,. the  American  army  posseted  every  posi- 
tion between  lake  Ontario  and  lake  Erie,  on  both  sides  of 
the  Niasahu  In  the  winter  of  the  same  year,  after  ha\- 
inggradroally  lost  their  possessions  on  the  British  side  of 
that  stream,  they  were'  dieprived  of  their  possessions  on 
their  owa.  Another  day  may  bring  forward  a  develop- 
ment of  the  causes^  which  led  to  such  unfavourable  re- 
sults; and  posterity  be  enabled  to  throw  the  censure  on 
the  proper  olyect 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

7/t«  JWvj^— 2%e  Hornet  challenges  Bonne  dtoyenne — Is 
chased  from  St.  Saivador'^Engaffts  and  captures  the 
doop  of  war  Feaeoek — Arrives  at  J^ew  Fork^'-^RetUTn 
of  the  frigate  Chesapeake-^Her  cruise^-^f*Arrival  and 
departure  of  the  President  and  Congress — Deaih  of 
captain  Lawrencet  and  loss  of  the  Qhesapeake-^-^on' 
duct  of  the  Privateers — lAeutenant  St,  Clair,  in  Ches- 
apeake Bay-^Fight  between  the  mrivateer  Commodore 
Aecatur  and  the  shop  of  war  bominica* 

The  United  States'  sloo])  of  war  Hornet,  having 
challenged  to  a  combat,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Bonne 
dtoyenne,  captain  Green,  who  declined  an  acceptance  of 
^e  invitation,  she  was  left  before  the  p(»rt  of  St.  Salva^ 
d6r,  by  commodore  Bainbiidge,  with  orders  to  blockade 
the  enemy's,  vessel  of  war,  containing  upwards  of  half  a 
million  of  dollars,  and  two  armed  British  merchantmen, 
then  lying  in  that  harbour.    This  blockade  was  vigilant- 


194 


HI8T0BICAI.  SKBTCUJBS 


It  k^t  up' until  the,  84th  of  January,  181d,  on  which  day 
tne  Montague  74  hove  in  tight,  and  chased  the  Hornet 
into  the  himMmr,  whence,  however,  she  escaped  in  the 
alight  Captain  I^awrence,  who  still  commanded  her^ 
then  shifted  his  cruising  ground ;  and  after  having  cap- 
tured a  vessel  of  10  nins,  laden  with  specie,  and  having 
run*  di»wn  the  coast  for  Maranham,  thence  off  Surrinam, 
and  thence  for  Demarara,  outside  of  the  bar  of  the  river 
leading  to  which  place,  and  with  the  fort  bearing  S.  W. 
about  S  and  an  half  leagues  distant  fi'om  him,  -he  disco- 
vered a  man  of  war  brig^  which  he  immediatelv  attempt- 
ed to  near,  by  beating  round  the  Carabana  oank.  In 
making  this  effort,  a  second  sail,  of  equal  size  to  the 
other,  was  also  discovered,  at  about  half  past  3»  P.  M. 
At  90  minutes  past  4,  the  strange  sail,  the  British  sloop 
of  war  Peacock,  captain  Peake,  of  18  guns,  and  one  Im- 
pounder carronade,  a  shifting  |;un,  showed  the  EnsJ^h 
nas,  and  tfie  Hornet  was  immediately  cleared  for  acBon, 
ana  captain  Lawrence  made  every  attempt  to  get  the 
weathergage.  The  Peacock  was  edging  down  fast  All 
the  efToiis  of  the  Hornet  to  weather  her  proved  fruitless, 
and  at  25  minutes  past  5,  the  American  ensign  being 
then  up,  in  passing  each  other,  the  two  vessels  exchang- 
ed broadsides  within  half  pistol  shot  iThe  effect  of  this 
fire  on  board  the  enemy's  vessel  was  extremely  severe ; . 
on  board  the  Hornet  no  loss  whatever  was  sustuned. 
The  Peaaock,  being  then  discovered  in  the  act  of  wear- 
ing, captain  Lawrence  bore  up,  received  her  staiixiard 
iMioadside,  run  her  close  on  board  on  the  starbou^  Quar- 
ter, and  poured  into  her  so  heavy,  constant,  and  well  di- 
rected a  fire,  that  in  15  minutes  she  surrendered,  with 
her  hull  and  rigging  totally  cut  to  pieces.  At  the  mo- 
ment of  her  surrender,  she  hoisted  a  signal  of  distress, 
and  in  the  next  moment,  her  mainmast  went  by  the  board, 
lieutenant  Shubrick,  whose  gallantry,  on  tms  occasion, 
was  not  less  conspicuous  than  in  the  actions  with  the 
Ouerriere  and  Java,  in  each  of  which  he  ^ve  unequivo- 
cal proofs,  as  well  of  his  humanity,  as  of  his  bravery,  was 
despatched  to  iHing  her  officers  on  board  the  Homet^->- 
He  soon  retomed  with  her  first  officer,  and  a  report  that 
the  captain  had  been  killed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  action; 

*  This  officer  was  lost  in  the  Epervier. 


OF  TH«  LATR  IfAB. 


195 


^hich  day 
[C  Hornet 
id  in  the 
ided  her^ 
viiig^  cap- 
id  having 
3urrinani» 
the  river 
ig  8.  W. 
•he  disco- 
'  attempt- 
ank.     In 
Ke  to  the 
3,  P.  M. 
tish  sloop 
id  one  12- 
leEneliflh 
or  actum, 
o  set  the 
fast    All 
fruitless, 
ign  being 
exchui^- 
ct  of  this 
y  severe ; . 
sustained, 
of  wear- 
starboard 
ftrd  auar- 
well  di- 
;  with 
^e  mo- 
distress, 
lo  board. 


that  a  great  number  of  the  crew  were  either  killed  or 
woundttlt  and  that  she  was  sinking  fast,  having  already  6 
feet  water  in  her  hold.  Bo^  vessels  were  brou|{^t  to  an* 
chor,  and  all  the  boats  immediatelv*  despatched  to  ttring 
off  the  Wounded,  and  as  much  of  meir  basgage  as  could 
be  found.  All  the  shot  holes  which  could  1^  got  at  were 
then  plugged,  the  guns  thrown  overboard,  and  cQwry 
possible  exertion  u^d  to  keep  her  afloat,  by  pumpinff 
and  bailing,  until  the  prisoners  could  be  removed.  AH 
efforts  appearing  to  be  entirelv  unavailing,  ^e  body  of 
captain  Peake  was  enclosed  in  tiis  own-fla^,  and  me  ship 
sunk  in  5  and  an  hair  fathoms  water,  carrying  down  13  of 
her  own,  and  3  of  tht  Hornet's  crew.*  Wim  the  utmost 
difficulty,  acting  lieutenant  Conner  and  midshipman  Coo- 
per, who  were  superintending  the  removal  of  me  prison- 
ers, effected  their  escape,  by  jumping  into  a  boat  which 
was  Ijdng  on  her  booms,  at  the  moment  when  the  Pea- 
cock sun^ 

<  The  loss  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  33  in  wounded,  3 
of  whom' afterwards  died.  The  number  of  killed  could 
not  be  ascertained ;  but  4  men,  besides  the  captain,  were 
found  dead  on  the  Peacock's  deck;  and  4  men  m  addition 
to  the  13  who  sunk,  were  drowned.  The  loss  on  board 
the  Hornet  was  1  man  killed,  2  slightly  wounded  in  the 
action^and  2  severely  by  the  bursting  o^a  cartridge.  Her 
hull  was  scarcely  injured,  thoueh  the  riggins  and  sails 
were  cut,  her  foremast  pierced  through,  and  Inr  bow- 
sprit sli^tly  wounded. 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  Hornet  -were  not  behind 
those  of  any  other  ship,  in  emulating  the  example  of 
captain  Hull  and  his  brave  companions;  and  the  course 
and  consequence  of  this  engagement,  bore  a  striking  si- 
militude to  that  wiUi  the  Griierriere.  Acting  lieutenants 
Conner  and  Newton,  and  midshipmen  Cooper,  Mayo, 
Gtetz,  Smoot,  Tippet,  Boerum,  and  Titus,  behaved  with  - 
that  bravery,  whicn  had  now  become  almost  inseparable 
from  the  American  name.  Lieutenant  Stewart,  the  1st 
officer  of  the  ship,  was  unfortunatelv  too  ill  to  keep  the 
deck,  and  captain  Lawrence  was  therefore  deprived  of 
the  services  of  a  meritorious  and  valuable  officer. 


*  These  men  went  on  board  to  save  the  wounded,  the  British 
sailors  having*  reiiised  to  assist  them.  "^ 


"^p 


196 


HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES 


ItiJB  enm^ent  took,  place  in  view  of  the  siy^of  war, 
whicli  lay  m  Denarara  river,  the  Espeigle  ;  a^l^ptain 
Xiawreiice  being  apprehensive  that  ^e  would  best  out  to 
the  assistaiice  bf  her  consort  the  Peacock,  the  ^eatj^st  ac- 
tivity prevaUed  on  board  the  Hornet  to  repair  damages, 
as  soon  as  they  were  sustained,  and  by  9  o'clock  all  the 
boats  were  stowed,  new  sails  bent,  and  the  ship  com- 
pletely prepared  for  another  action.  The  E^^gle,  oi 
equal  Ibrce  wi^  the  Peacock,  did  not  cotme  out. 

Captain  Lawrence's  crew  liad  been  on  S-Sds  allowance 
of  provisions  for  several  days,  and  the  nuinber  of  souls 
now  on  board  amounting  to  270,  inSluding  tlujse  of  the 
merchant  prize,  it  became  necessary  that  she  should  re- 
turn to  the  United  States.  She  shaped  her  course  for 
Ne^  York,  where  she  arrived  about  the  20th  of  March. 
On  the  passage  her  officers  divided  their  clothing  with  the 
prisoners,  who  had  lost  their  baggage;  the  crew  of  the 
ship  save  up  each  a  proportion  oftheirs  to  the  crew  of 
the^ftacock;  and  the  private  wardrobe  of  the  captain, 
whose  attentions  to  the  wants  of  those,  whom  the  fortune 
of  war  had  placed  in  his  hands,  and  'whose  exertions  to 
ameliwate  their  condition  were  unceasing,  was  i^ven  up 
to  her  officers.  At  New  York,  captain  Lawrence  was 
received  witii  universal  joy;  and  his  reception  in  other 
cities  was  similar  to  that  which  had  been  given  to  other 
naval ,  commanders. 

Many  days  had  not  elapsed,  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Hornet  at  New  York,  wben  the  United  States'  friga,te 
Chesapeake,  captain  Evans,  of  36  guns,  returned  to  the 
hiEtrbour  of  Boston,  from  a  cruise  of  115  days.  During 
that  time  she  had  run  down  by  the  Madeiras,  Canaries, 
and  Cape  de  Verds,  and  thence  down  on  the  equator, 
where  sue  cruised  6  weeks.  Hence  she  proceeded  down 
the  coast  of  South  America,  and  passed  within  15  leagues 
of  Surrinam.  On  the  25th  of  Feoruary,  the  day  after  the 
conquest  of  the  Peacock,  she  passed  over  the  'place,  at 
which  that  vessel  had  been  sunk,  and  thence  proceeded 
down  by  Barbadoes,  Antigua,  and  most  of  the  windward 
islands,  thence  on  the  coast  of  the  United  States,  between 
Bermuda  and  the  capes  of  Viipiua,  by  the  capes  of  the 
Delaware  within  12  leagues,  by  New  York  within  20, 
and  thence  by  the  east  channel  to  Boston,  where  she  ter- 
minated a  cruise  on  the  lOtli  of  April,  marked  by  the  cap- 


OF  THE  LATB  WAB. 


1«7 


sUpofwar, 

I  beat  out  to 
^eat^st  at- 
ur  damages, 
clock  all  the 
e  ship  com- 
Espetgle,  of 
E»ut. 

Is  allowance 
ber  of  souls 
thuse  of  tile 
le  should  re- 
ir  course  for 
I  of  March, 
hing  with  the 
crew  of  the 
the  crew  of 
the  captain, 
1  the  fortune 
exertions  to 
ivas  given  up 
wrence  was 
on  in  other 
yen  to  other 

rival  of  the 

ates*  friga,te 

irned  to  the 

ys.    During 

8,  Canaries, 

he  equator, 

ceded  down 

15  leagues 

aj  after  the 

le 'place,  at 

proceeded 

windvard 

es,  between 

apes  of  the 

within  20, 

re  she  ter- 

bythe  cap- 


i^ve  of  f^uj*  valuable  merchantpien,  the  chas^  of  a  Sfritish 
slooo  Q||l^r»  and  an  esci  ^«  from  two  line  of  bati^e  j|hi|>i* 
The  command  of  this  ship  was  thim  giv<9i  tp  captain 
Lawrence,  (her  late  commander,  captain  Evaiis;  havios 
accepted  die  command  of  the  New  Yotk  station)  und  di- 
rections were  immediately '^ven  to  repair,  and  equip  her 
for  another  cruise.  Commodore  Roapiers  had  returned 
to  that  port  also  fro  in  a  cruise,  in  which,  tfaoudi  he  did 
not  capture  any  armed  ship  of  the  enemy,^he  drew  from 
the  coast  such  of  Ms  public  vessels  as  were  destined  to 
blockade  the  different  ports,  and  saved  to  the  mercantile 
interest  of  the  country  many  millions  of  dollars:  Hie 
President  and  Congress  were  at  that  time  the  only  ves- 
sels of  his  squadron.  To  keep  these  in  port,  the  British 
frigates  Shannon  and  Tenedos,  each  being  of  tiie  largest 
class,  appeared  off  the  entrance  to  the  haroour  of  Boston, 
and  sent  in  frequent  reports  of  their  size,  strength,  and 
armament.  Early  in  the  month  of  May,  however,  com- 
.modore  Rodeers  put  to  sea;  but  the  British  frigates 
a,v  aided  him  ly  sailing  from  the  coast  In,  the  course  of 
that  months  the  Shannon  returned  to  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour,  and  lier  commander,  commodore  Brooke,  sent 
in  a  challenge,  to  the  commander  of  the  frigate  Chesa- 
peake. This  challen^  was  not  received  by  captain  I^aw- 
rence,  but  l^s  ship  being  then  in  readiness,  he  understood 
the  menacii]^  manceuvres  of  the  Shannon  to  be  an  invita- 
tion, and  on  the  first  of  June  (1&14),  with  a  crew  almost 
in  a  state  of  mutiny,  and  unacquainted  with  their  new  cap- 
tain, and  without  his  full  complement  ot  officers,  his  first 
lieutenant,  Paee,  being  sick  on  shore,  he  sMled  out  to 
.meet,  and  give  oattle  to  the  hostile  ship.  The  Shannon 
sailed  from  the  bay,  and  put  to  sea,  the  Che^peake,  fol- 
lowing in  chase,  seven  miles  astern  At  half  past  4,  the 
Shannon  hove  to,  with  her  head  to  the  southwara  and  east- 
ward ;  and  at  half  past  5,  the  Chesapeake  hauled  up  her 
courses,  and  was  closing  fast  with  .the  enemy.  At  15  mi- 
nutes  before  6,  he  commenced  the  action  by  firing  his  after 
suns  on  ^e  starboard  side,  when  the  Chesapeake  eave 
him  a  broadside;  this  was  succeeded  by  a  broaidside  from 
the  Shannon,  which  killed  the  sailing  master,  Mr.  White, 
and  many  of  the  crew,  and  woundcn  captain  Lawrence ; 
he  refused  to  quit  the  deck,  however,  and  ordered  a  second 
broadside,  the  return  to  which,  wounded  th   captain  a  se- 

R2 


198 


HISf  ORliDAL  8Rin*OBE8 


tooA  time,  and  kill^  the  fourth  ^utenant,  Ballard,  and 
Hettt^nant  Broom  <rf',the  marines.  "The  Che8i»peake  then 
nukjl^  ahead, of  tiie  Shannon,  when  her  jib  sheet,  the 
sliflcsof  her  fore  top  sail  yard,  her  spanker  brails,  and 
her  DOW  lines  and  o^aces,  being  cat,  she  luffed  into  the 
wind,  and  took  aback,  and  fell  with  her  quarter  foul  of 
the  Shannon's  starboard  anchor.    This  accident  «ive  a 
decided  advantage  to  the  enemy,  and  enabled  him  to 
rttke  the  Chesapeake.     Captain  Lawrence  was  uU  this 
while  on  deck,  still  persisting  in  his  refusal  to'  so  below, 
when,  having  called  for  the  boarders,  h^  received  a  mus^ 
ket  ball  throu^  the  body,  and  in  a  languishing  state  was 
carried  down.    At  this  moment  the  ship  was  deprived  of 
all  her  principal  officers ;  the  first  lieutenant,  Au^stus  C. 
Ludlow,  had  been  mortally  wounded;  several  (»  the  mid- 
shipmen and  petty  officers,  besides  the  fourth  lieutenant 
and  the  commanding  officer  of  marines,  were  either  killed 
or  wounded,  and  the  command  of  the  ship  devolved  on 
her  third  lieutenant, Budd.   The  braveiy  and  seamanship, 
of  f^s  officer,  being  already  known  to  the  crew,  some 
hope  remained  of  saving  the  ship,  and  of  capturing  the 
superior  enemy.    But,  as  lieutenant  Budd  ascended  the 
spar  deck,  an  arm  chest  on  the  quarter  was  blown  up,  by 
a  hand  grenade,  thrown  from  the  Shannon's  tops.    The 
boarders  very  soon  followed  lieutenant  Budd,  but  bef<Mre 
they  reached  the  deck,  captain  Brooke  had  determined 
that  the  Chesapeake  could  only  be  carried  bv  boarding, 
and  having  already  so  many  shot  between  wind  and  water 
in  his  own  ship,  that  he  became  apprehensive  of  her  sink- 
ing, he  threw  his  marines  on  the  Chesapeake's  quarter 
deck,tind  headed  them  himself.    Lieutenant  Buad  im-, 
mediately  gave  orders  to  haul  on  board  the  fore  tack,  for 
the  purpose  of  shooting  the  ship  clear  of  the  Shannon,  and 
of  attempting  to  capture  captain  Brooke,  who  had  then  a 
number  of  his  crew  on  board  the  Chesapeake.    On  this 
effi>rt  the  fate  of  the  ship  depended,  and  most  of  the  Ame- 
rican crew,  mindful  of  the  dying  words  of  their  gallant 
commander,  whose  injunction  on  them  was,  "  Don't  give 
up  the  sfiApr  several  times  attempted  to  succeed  in  it: 
but  the  boatswain  having  mutinied,  aikl  persuaded  many 
of  tie  men,  who  were  dissatisfied  at  not  havinj^  received 
their  prizre  money  of  the  last  cruise,  to  join  him  below ; 
the  few  who  remained  firm  to  thek  duty,  were  soon  over- 


5V  THE  tlli^lS;  WAR. 


190 


ilard,  and 
eake  then 
iheet,  the 
irails,  and 
I  into  the 
er  foul  of 
nt  «ive  a 
A  nim  to 
18  aU  this 
;o  below. 


ed  a  mu8*> 
'State  was 
ieprived  of 
.ugustusC. 
jfthe  mid- 
lieutenant 
ither  killed 
'volved  on 
leamanship . 
crew,  some 
tturing  the 
cendecl  the 
f  wn  up,  by 
tops.    The 
but  before 
letermined 
^boarding, 
and  water 
f  her  sink- 
s's  quarter 
Budd  im-, 
e  tack,  for 
innon,  and 
tad  then  a 
On  this 
the  Ame- 
:ir  gallant 
hn*t  give 
leed  in  it.: 
ed  many 
received 
[m  below; 
iOOB  over- 


Sowered ;  and  lieutenant  Budd^  beipg  wounded  and  thrown 
own  to  the  gun  4eck,  in  attempting  to  gain  tiie  quarter, 
ihe  scheme  entirely  fuled,  and  the  enemy  guned  com* 
plete  possession  of  the  upper  deck.  A  great  proporti<m 
of  the  creWj  who  had  escaped  a  wound,  neverthdess  con<* 
iinued  fitting;  and  captain  Brooke,  as  he  was  crossing 
the  ship,  was  sKot  through  the  neck  by  the  Chesapeake^ 
chaplam,  Livermore,  whom  he  instantly  cut  down ;  but 
he,  almost  as  soon,  received  a  wound  in  the  head,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  his  own  ship.'  Hie  enemy *&  crew 
were  now  commanded  by  lieutenant  Waft,  who  stabbed 
and  cut  down  the  wounded  and  vanquished,  without  re- 
md  to  their  cries  of  surrender.  He  was  killed  on  the 
Chesapeake^  deck,  according  to  one  account,  by  one  of 
the  Slumnon's  sailors,  as  he  was  placing,  hj  mistake,  the 
American  over  Ihe  English  ensign ;  accordmg  to  another, 
by  an  American  sailor  in  the  main  top,  when  in  the  act 
of  killing  a  wounded  marine.  The  enemy  had  now  the 
entire  possession  of  the  Chesapeake;  the  Ei^ish  flag  was 
flying  at  the  different  mast  heads,  yet  they  ccmtinued  to 
shoot  at,  and  otherwise  to  wound*  her  sailors.  A  volley 
of  musketry  was  fired  by  them,  down  upon  tiie  WQundea, 
and  one  of  the  American  mid^ipmen  was  assailed  by  a 
British  marine  with  great  violenpe,  after  his  submission 
to  tiie  Shannon's  commander. 

In  this  engagement,  the  result  of  which  is  attributed  to 
many  fortuitous  events,  the  suMriority  of  the  American 
gunnery  was  eleariy  evinced.  The  Chesapeake  fired  two 
^ns  to  one  of  the  enemy,  and  pierced  tlie  shannon's  sides 
m  so  many  places,  that  she  was  kept  afloat  with  very  great 
difliculty ;  whilst,  on  the  other  side,  the  Shannon's  broad- 
sides scarcely  injured  the  hull  of  the  Chesapeake.  At 
lone  shot  the  engagement  might  have  terminal^  differ- 
ently; thoueh  die  captain  and  crew  were  strangers  to  each 
other,  the  ship  just  out  of  port,  and  not  in  a  fighting  con- 
dition, and  many  of  the  sailors  quite  raw.  Her  rate  was 
36  guns,  her  force  48.  The  rate  of  the  Shannon  was  38, 
her  force  49;  and  in  addition  to  her  ow);i  crew,  she  had 
on  board,  16  chosen  men  from  the  Bella  Poule,  and  part 
of  Ihe  crew  of  the  Tenedos.  She  lost  in  the  engagement, 
besides  her  first  lieutenant,  the  captain's  clerk,  me  purser 
and  23  seamen,  killed;  and,  besides  her  captain,  one  mid- 
shipman and  56  seamen,  wounded.    On  board  the  Cbesa- 


200 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


peake,  the  captain,  the  first  and  fourth  lieutenants,  the 
lieitten{uit  of  marines,  the  master,  midshipmen  Hopewell, 
Livingston,  Evans,  and  about  70~  men,  were  killed:  and 
the  second  and  tiiird  lieutenants,  the  chaplain,  midship- 
men Weaver,  Abbott,  NichoUs,  Berry,  and  neaflj  80 
men,  wounded.  The  greater  pi^portion  of-  this  Loss  was 
sustained,  after  the  enemy  had  gained  the  deck  of  the 
Chesapeake. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  the  action,  the  two  ships 
were  steered  for  Halifax,  where  the  bodies  of  captain 
Lawrence,  and^s^allant  officers  slain  in  the  battle,  were 
committed  to  the  grave  with  the  usual  honours,  attended 
by  all  the  civil,  naval  and  military  officers,  of  the  two  na- 
tions, who  happened  to  be  in  that  port. 

Not  long  after  these  honourable  funeral  obseouies  had 
been  performed  by  the  enemy,  captain  Geoi^  Crownin- 
shield,  brother  to  tne  present  secretary  of  the  navy,  actu- 
ated by  t|)e  laudable  aesire  of  restoring  tiie  body  of  the 
lamented  Lawrence  to  his  country  and  his  friends,  re- 
quested and  obtuned  permission  of  the  pi^sident,  to  pro- 
ceed in  a  flag  vessel  to  Hidifax,  at  his  individual  expense, 
for  that  purpose.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  British 
rauadrott,  at  tihat  time  bloekading  the  eastern  ports,  sir 
lliomas  Hardy,  readily  assented  to  the  free  passage  of 
captsdn  Crowninshield's  brig,  and  he  accordingly  proceed- 
ed to  effect  his  efcgeci,  accompanied  by  twdve  masters 
of  vessels,  who  volunteered  to  compose  the  crew.  The 
body  was  brou^t  to  the  port  of  Salem,  and  entombed 
with  the  temains  of  its  ancestors  in  New  York,  where  the 
hiehest  funeral  honours  were  paid  by  the  citizens,  as  a 
tribute  of  their  respect  and  admiration  to  their  late  gal- 
lant countryman. 

The  private  amfed  vessels  of  the  United  States,  the 
number  of  which  had  greatly  increased  since  the  account 
given  of  them  in  a  foregoing  chapter  of  these  sketches, 
were  still  cruising  over  the  Atlantic,  continually  captur- 
ing, and  otherwise  annoying  the  commerce  of  the  enemy, 
and  occasionally  engaging  some  of  his  public  ships,  m 
such  gidlant  combats,  as  ate  entitle4,  and  oudit  to  oe  re- 
^stered  among  the  accounts  of  the  most  brOliant  naval 
exploits. 

The  Cotne^,  captain  Boyle,  of  14  guns  and  120  men,  being 
off  Pemambuco  on  the  14th  January  (1814),  discoyered  4 


w 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


201 


nahts,  the 
Hopewell, 
illed:  and 
I,  midship- 
nearlj  80 
B  loss  was 
eck  of  the 

s  two  ships 
of  captain 
atUe,  were 
\,  attended 
he  two  na- 

eouies  had 
I  Crownin- 
navy,  actu- 
ody  of  the 
riends,  re- 
snt,  to  pro- 
Eil  eiLpense, 
the  British 
L  ports,  nr 
passage  of 
y  proceed- 
re  masters 
rew.    The 
entombed 
where  the 
zens,  as  a 
ir  late  gal- 
States,  the 
le  account 
'.  sketches, 
ly  captur- 
le  enem^, 
ships,  m 
t  to  De  re- 
ant  naval 

(len,  being 
covered  4 


sail  standing  out  of  that  place.  This  squadron  consisted 
of  3  En^sH  merchantmen:  the  ship  George,  capt  Wil* 
son,  of  14  guns,  and  the  brigs  Gamfrier,  captain  Smith, 

and  BoweSt  captain ,  of  10  guns  eacn,  who  were 

bound  to  Europe,  under  the  protection  of  the  fourth  ves- 
sel, a  Portusuese  national  ship  of  32  guns,  and  165  men. 
The  latter  having  exhibited  the  colours  of  hier  nation, 
captain  Boyle  stood  for  her,  and  received  a  communica- 
tion of  her  character  and  object,  accompanied  by  an  in- 
junction not  to  molest  the  Inerchithtmen.  Considering 
that  the  Portuguese  had  no  ri^t  to  afford  protection  to  a 
British  vessel,  in  the  nature  of  a  convoy,  captain  Boyle 
informed  her  commander  of  his  determination  to  capture 
them  if  he  possibly  could,  and  immediately  sailed  in  pur- 
suit. As  ihey  kept  close  together,  the  Comet  opened  her 
fire  upon  the  3  merchantmen,  who  returned  it  with  ala- 
crity. The  man  of  war  delivered  a  heavy  fire  of  round 
and  grape,  and  received  in  turn  a  broadside.  The  Eng- 
lish occasionally  separated  from  each  other,  to  ^ve  the 
Portusuese  a  chance  of  crippling  the  Comet,  whose  cap- 
tain, however,  kept  as  near  as  possible  to  the  merchant- 
men. Frequent  mt)adsides  were  discharged,  as  oppor- 
tunities vaned,  at  the  whole  sc|uadron,  whose  collected 
force  amounteid  to  54  guns,  and  m  a  few  minutes  the  ship 
George  struck  her  colours  in  a  sinking  condition.  Soon 
after,  the  brig  Bowes  struck  also;  but  a  broadside  from 
the  man  of  war  prevented  the  Comet* s  boat  from  taking 
possession.  Captain  Boyle  then  repeated  his  attack  upon 
the  Portuguese,  and  obliged  h^r  to  sheer  off,  with  the  loss 
of  her  1st  lieutenant  and  5  men  killed,  and  her  captain 
and  several  men  wounded.  The  third  merchantman, 
the  GamMeTt  then  also  surrendered,  and  the  brig  Bowes 
was  immediately  taken  possession  of.  So  much  were 
the  others  injured,  that  captdn  Boyle  deemedrit  improper 
to  board  them,  and  determined  to  lay  to  until  morning, 
it  being  by  this  time  excessively  dark.  Between  the  Por- 
tuguese and  the  Comet,  several  broadsides  were  ex- 
changed in  the  course  of  the  ni^t,  without  anj  material 
effect  On  the  following  morning,  the  man  of  war  gave 
signal  to  the  other  ships  to  make  the  first  port,  and  stood 
off  herself  with  that  view.  The  Comet  brought  her  prize 
into  the  United  States,  fhaking  her  way  through  a  squa- 
dron which  was  blockading  the  southern  ports.    Before 


202 


HISTOBICAI.  SKETCHES 


she  arrived,  however,  she  captured  the  Mexi»i  aiid  Jhrni* 
nica  packet,  each  of  10  guns,  and  i!ti^  Metdeen  f^  %  in 
the  presence  of  a  British  sloop  of  war,  who  wss,  at  the 
same  time,  in  full  chase  of  the  privateer. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  the  schooner  Hazard,  captain 
Le  Chartier,  of  3  guns,  and  38  men,  captured  tiie  ship 
Jillnon,  of  12  suns,  and  15  men,  being  one  of  a  convoy 
for  Europe.  On  the  23d,  she  was  re-captured  by  the 
cutter  CtUedonia,  of  8  guns,  and  38  men,  Irom  New  Pro- 
vidence. Three  days  after,  the  Hazard  fell  in  with  both, 
engaged,  and  after  an  action  of  several  minutes,  compell- 
ed both  to  strike,  but  took  pt)ssessi6n'  of  the  prize  only 
and  carried  her  into  St.  MaiT*s.  The  Caledonia  was  very 
much,  injured,  and  most  of  her  crew  either  killed  or 
wounded.  On  board  the  Hazard,  the  1st  lieutenant  and 
6  men  were  slightly  woundled,  but  the  hull  and  rigging 
were  severely  wiattered  by  the  grape  from  the  two  ves- 
sels;      ^ 

The  private  armed  schooner  General  Armstrong,  cap- 
tain Champlin,  of  18  guns,  being  within  5  leagues  of  the 
moutii  of  Surrinam  river,  on  the  11th  of  March,  discover- 
ed a  larae  sail  to  be  at  anchor  under  the  land.  The  crew 
of  tiie  wneral  Armstrong  supposed  her  to  be  an  English 
letter  of  marque,  and  consequently,  captlEiin  Champlin 
bore  down,  with  an  intention  of  ^ving  tier  a  starboard 
and  larboard  broadside,  and  then  to  board  her.  The  stran- 
^r,  in  the  mean  time,  had  got  sail  on  her,  and  was  stand'- 
ing  out  for  the  American.  Both  vessels,  thus  approach- 
ing each  other,  had  come  within  gun-shot,  (tiie  English- 
man firing  the  guns  on  his  main  deck,)  when  the  General 
Armstrong  discharged  both  the  contemplated  broadsides, 
and  discovered,  too  late,  that  her  anta^nist  was  a  heavy 
fr^te.  She  nevertiieless  kept  up  her  fire,  thou^  attempt- 
ing to  get  away,  but  in  ten  minutes  she  was  silenced  by 
the  enemy.  The  last  shot  of  the  General  Armstrong 
brought  down  the  enemy's  colours,  by  cutting  away  her 
mizen  gaff,  haulyards,  and  her  mizen  and  miun  stay;  and, 
cap'  n  Champhn,  presuming  that  she  had  struck,  made 
prf  'ations  to  possess  her;  but  the  frigate  opened  ano- 
ther i .  ivy  fire  upon  the  schqoner,  killed  6,  and  wounded 
the  captain  and  16  of  her  men;  shot  away  the  fore  and 
main  shrouds,  pierced  the  mainmast  and  "bowsprit,  and 
struck  her  several  times  between  wind  and  water.    In 


I. 


OF  THE  JJLT1&  WAR. 


203 


dSi  and  Domi^ 
rdeenfX  8^  in 

10  Mwii  At  the 

xardt  captain 
ared  the  ship 
A  of  a  convoy 
ptured  by  the 
rom  New  Pro- 

11  in  with  both, 
lUtes,  eompell- 
the  prize  only 
Ionia  was  very 
ither  killed  or 
lieutenant  and 
[II  and  ri^ng 
n  the  two  ves- 

rmstrong,  cap- 
leagues  of  the 
[arch,  discover- 
md.  The  crew 
t  be  an  English 
tiain  Cbamplin 
er  a  starboard 
ler.  Thestran- 
ind  was  stand- 
thus  approach- 
,  (the  English- 
in  the  General 

sd  broadsides, 

|st  was  a  heavy 

lou^  attempt- 

,s  silenced  by 

1  Armstrong 
:ting  away  her 

ainstay;  and, 

struck,  made 
opened  ano- 

and  wounded 

the  fore  and 

wsprit,  and 

id  water.    In 


this  condition,  she  laid  upwards  of  45  minutes,  within 
pistol  s^^  of  the  frigate;  out,  by  the  extraordinary  exer- 
tions of  t|^  crew,  and  the  aid  of  sweeps,  she  got  out  of 
the  enemy's  reach,  and  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  4th 
of  April. 

On  the  3d  of  that  month,  the  privateer  Dolphin,  of  10 
guns,  still  commanded  by  captain  Stafford,  who  had  en- 
gaged and  captured  two  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  mounting 
26  guns,  was  attacked  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock 
river,  by  17  barges  from  a  British  squadron.  The  bargi^s 
carried  upwards  of  40  men  each:  the  Dolphin  was  man- 
ned b^  60.  Two  letters  of  marque,  laying  there  also, 
soon  yidded,  but  Captain  Stafford  resolved  on  defending 
his  vessel.  The  (lattle  continued  two  hours,  when  the 
enemy  succeeded  in  boarding.  The  Dolphin's  crew 
fought  witii  great  desperation  on  her  deck,  and  the  engage- 
ment was  kept  up  many  minutes  longer,  before  the  ves- 
sel was  captured,  llie  enemy  took  down  her  colours, 
and  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  nearly  50  men.  On 
board  the  Dolphin,  4  men  were  wounded. 

At  a  harbour  near  Gwinn's  Island,  lieutenant  St  Clair 
of  the  navy,  who  had  previously  distinguished  himself  as 
an  able  seaman,  in  the  sloop  of  war  Ai^s,  anchored  a 
small  schooner,  mounting  two  or  three  guns,  and  filled 
with  arm^d  m^n,  to  repel  the  depredations  which  the  en- 
emy were,  about  that  time,  committing  along  the  ^ore.s 
of  the  Chesapeake.  He  encountered  a  schooner,  who 
hailed  and  ordered  him  to  come  on  board  with  his  boat^ 
which  being  refused,  an  engagement  foUowed,  and  ter- 
minated in  silencing  the  strange  vessel.  She,  however, 
renewed  it,  a  second  and  a  third  time,  and  was  as  often 
silenced.  The  ni^t  was  excessively  dark,  and  when 
lieutenant  St.  Clur  sent  his  boat  to  take  possession,  he 
discovered  that  she  had  made  her  escape,  leaving  him 
with  one  man  wounded  on  board  the  schooner. 

This  succession  of  sea  engagements,  was  .closed  by  a 
brilliant  attack,  made  by  a  privateer  upon  a  sloop  of  war. 
The  schooner  Commodfore  Decatur,  of  10  euns,  com- 
manded by  captun  Dominique,  en^ged  the  sloop  of  war 
Dominica,  lieutenant  commandant  Barret,  of  14  euns,  and 
after  a  well  contested  action,. carried  her  by  ooarding, 
and  brou^t  her  into  the  United  States.  No  event,  pro- 
bably, in  the  uaval  annals,  furnishes  evidence  of  a  more 


f 


204 


HISTOKICAL  SKETCHES 


brilliant  and  decisive  victoty,  gained  by  a  vessel  so  infe- 
rior in  siae,  strength,  and  armament^  to  her  antafonisi 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Blockade  of  the  Delaware  River,  and  of  Chesapeake  Bay 
-Attack  upon  Lewistoum,  on  the  former-affair  be- 
low Lewistown — Repulse  of  the  enemy  near  Morris 
,  Ri^yer-^inie  gun  bwts  attack  two  frigt^es—Briffage' 
ntent  on  the  Delaware — Deprddatwns  in  Chesapeake 
Buy^Frequent  failures  of  the  enemy  to  landr-^^air 
at  Prenchtoum—Bestruciton  of  Havre  de  Qraee,  and 
of  G'^Wgetown  and  Fredericktown-~-'Blockadeof  other 
pofts^^Jjoss  of  the  Revenue  Cutter,  8urveyor^~»Action 
Between  the  gun  boats  and  three  frigates — Defence  of 
Crany  Islan^-^Hamptonassauttm,  and  plundered; 

The  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain;  Was 
no  sooner  made  known  at  that  court,  than  its  ministers 
detettmned  on  sending  into  their  provinces  of  Canada,  the 
'  veteran  regiments  of  their  army^;  and  adopted*  effectual 
measure  to  forward  to  the  coast  of  the  American  states, 
a  naval  force  competent  to  blockade  its  principal  bays 
{ind  rivera»  Incensed  at  the  successes  of  the  American 
naval  arms,  over  the  frigates  and  sloops  of  war  of  their 
naticHif  they  hastened  the  departure  of  their  different 
fleets;  and,  in  retaliation  for  the  invasion  of  their  provin- 
ces by  the  Araericfui  troops,  instructed  their  commanders 
to  burn  and  otherwise  to  destroy,  not  only  the  coasting 
and  river  craft,  but  the  towns  and  villases  on  the  navi- 
gable inlets;  and  more  particulirly  in  me  southern  de- 
partments of  the  union.  Eariy  in  the  spring  of  1813,  de- 
tachments of  these  fleets  arriv^  at  the  mouth  of  the  De- 
laware, and  at  the  entrance  to  the  Chesapeake  bay.— r 
Others  were  to  rendezvous  atBermuda,  and  thence  to 
proceed  to  the  reinforcement  of  the  blockading  squadrons. 
In  the  month  of  March,  the  Poictiers,  74,  comnia4ore 
Beresford;  the  frigate  Belvidere,  and  several  smaller  ves- 
sels of  war,  entered  the  bay  of  Delaware,  and  destroyed 


Oir  THE  LATE  WAR. 


mi 


el  so  infe- 


feake  Bay 
-Affair  he- 
ir Morris 
--Engage' 
jhesapeake 
idr~^air 
Sfrace,  and 
ids  of  other 
W'-^ction 
'Defence  of 
maered., 

ritain,  was 
B  ministers 
ISanada,  the 
d*  effectual 
ican  states, 
icipal  b&ys 

American 
^u*  of  their 
r  different 
leir  provin- 
ommanders 
he  coasting 
►n  the  navi- 
Dttthem  de- 
)f  1813,  de- 
i  of  the  De- 
jake  bay.— r 

thence  to 

squadrons, 
commodore 
mialler  v«s- 

destroyed 


great  numbers  of  small  trading  vessels.  In  the  course  df 
mat  month*  they  were  repeatedly  repulsed  in  thdr  at- 
tempts io  capture  otiiers  wnich  lay  near  the  shore,  by  the 
militia  of  Delaware;  and  several  instances  occurred  of 
sharp  fighting,  which  tended  to  improve  the  disciplihe  of 
the  Volunteers  of  that  state. 

A  demand  was  made  upon  the  people  of  Lewistown, 
for  a  supply  of  provisions  for  the  olockading  squadron, 
which  bemg  spiritedly  refused,  on  the  6th  Df  April,  sir 
John  P.  Beresford  directtBd  captain  Byron,  to  move  as 
near  the  town,  with  the  Belvidere,  as  the  Water  would 
permit  him,  and,  having  first  notified  its  inhabitants,  to 
bombard  it,  until  his  demands  were  complied  with.  On 
the  night  of  the  6th,  the  bombardment  accordingly  took 
place;  the  enemy's  gun  boats  approached  near  enough 
to  throw  their  32-pound  balls  into  the  town,  but  their 
bombs  fell  far  short  of  their  obiecti  Colonel  Davis,  who 
commanded  at  that  time,  had  already  removed  the  "mimen 
and  children,  and  returned  the  enemy's  lire  from  in  18- 
pounder  battery,  with  which,  in  a' few  minutes,  he  effectual- 
ly silenced  one  of  the  gun  boats.  The  cannonade  continued 
nearly  20  hours;  at  the  end  of  which  time,  the  enemy 
drew  off  his  vessels  and  descended  the  b&y,  having  dis- 
charged upwards  of  600  sho^  shells  and  Conereve  rock- 
ets. The  shells  did  not  reach  the  ixiwn;  the  rockets 
passed  Over  it;  but  the  32-pounders  injured  several  of  the 
nouses.  The  Poictiers  and  the  Belvidere,  sailed  out  of 
the  bay  for  Bermuda. 

The  Spartan  frigate,  having  entered  the  Delaware  soon 
after  the  departure  of  this  squadron,  attempted,  on  the; 
31st  of  the  same  month,  to  land  about  60  of  ner  men  near 
Morris's  river,  on  the  Jersey  side,  with  a  view  to  obtain 
provisions.  A  small  party  of  the  militia  of  that  state, 
however,  hastily  collected  and  drove  them  oflf^  before 
tiiey  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  the  farmers'  houses. 

fn  the  month  of  June,  the  frigate  Statira,  and  the  sloop 
of  war  Martin,  reinforced  the  enemy,  and  had  captured 
many  large  merchant  vessels  bound  up  the  Delaware. 
The  whole  trade  between  the  capes  and  Philadelphia,  and 
many  of  the  intermediate  places,  was  liable  to  be  inter*- 
cepted;  and,  unless  they  were  protected  bj  a  convoy, 
the  small  vessels  usually  employed  on  the  nver,  did  not 
>ittempt  to  sail.    On  the  2Sd,  a  squadron  of  9  gun  boatei, 

3  '  .    '■    ' 


206 


UISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


r  " 


and  2  armed  sloops,  under  lieutenant  commandant  An- 
sus,  of  the  navy,  convoyed  3  sloops,  laden  with  timber 
for  a  44,  then  building  at  Philadelpnia,  under  the  eye  of 
the  enemy.  The  gun  boats  engaged  the  two  frigates, 
whilst  the  sloops  effected  their  passage,  and  the  Statira 
and  Spartan  moved  from  their  anchorage  to  a  situation 
out  of  reach  of  annoyance. 

.  A  merchant  sloop,  having  entered  the  bay  on  the  22d 
of  July,  on  l\er  return  from  sea,  was  cut  off  bv  the  Martin 
sloop  of  war,  which  had  just  reappeared  in  the  Delaware. 
The  sloop  ran  aground  to  avoia  capture ;  and  although 
she  was  afterwards  attacked  by  a  tender  and  4  baizes 
well' manned  and  armed,  a  hasty  collection  of  militia  with 
X  field  piece,  under  lieutenant  Townsend,  drove  off  her 
assailants,  and  saved  the  sloop. 

A  detachment  of  the  gun  boat  flotilla,  being  at  this  time 
but  a  few  miles  off,  were  apprised  of  the  attack  made  by 
the  sloop  of  war,  and  captain  AngUs  immediately  pro- 
ceeded! down  the  biay,  with  8  gun  boats  and  ^  block 
sloops.    On  the  S9th,  he  discovered  the  Martin  grounded 
slightly  on  the  outer  ridge  of  Crow's  shoals,  and  deter- 
mining to  attack  her  in  that  situation,  he  anchored  his 
squadron  within  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy, 
and  opened  afire  from  the  whole  line.    The  Junon  fri- 
gate came  up  to  the  assistance  of  the  sloop  of  war,  and 
anchored  within  half  a  mile  below  her.    Between  both  of 
tiiie  enemy's  vessels,  mounting  in  all  69  guns,  and  the 
gun  boat  squadron,  a  cannonade  followed,  and  continued 
about  1  hour  and  45  minutes;  in  all  which  time,  scarcely 
a  shot  struck  either  of  the  gun  boats,  whilst  at  almost 
every  fire,  the  latter  teld  upon  the  hulls  of  the  sloop  and 
frigate.    This  difference  oi  effect  in  the  firing  being  dis- 
covered by  the  British,  they  manned  their  launches,  bar- 
ges; and  cutters,  10  in  number,  and  despatehed  tiiem  to 
cut  off  the  boats  on  the  extremity  of  the  fine^    No.  121 ,  a 
boat  commanded  by  sailing  master  Shead,  which,  by  some 
accident,  had  fallen  a  very  great  distance  out  of  ^e  line, 
and  was  prevented   from  recovering  its  situation  by  a 
strong  ebb,  and  the  wind  dving  away,  became  the  object 
of  attack  from  the  enemy's  barges.    8  of  them,  mounting 
among  them  three  12-pound  carronades,  and  Carrying  150 
men,  assailed  the  gun  boat  at  one  time.    Mr.  Shead  con- 
tinued, nevertheless,  to  sweep  her  towards  ^e  squadron. 


dant  An- 
th  timber 
Ke  eye  of 
»  frigates, 
le  Statira 
sitaation 

1  the  22d 
lie  Martin 
Delaware. 
I  although 
I  4  bar^B 
lilitiawith 
ive  off  her 

it  this  time 
k  made  by 
iately  pro- 
l  ^  block 
I  grounded 
and  deter- 
chored  his 
he  enemy, 
Junon  fri- 
war,  and 
«n  both  of 
and  the 
continued 
1,  scarcely 
at  almost 
sloop  and 
being  dis- 
ches,  bar- 
d  them  to 
|No.  i21,a 
1,  by  some 
^f  tne  line, 
Ltion  b^  a 
Ithe  object 
1  mounting 
/mgl50 
kh^ad  con- 
Isquadron, 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


207 


and  to  discharge  his  24-pounder  alternately,  at  one  or  the 
other  of  the  pursuing  barges,  until. thej  oained  so  fast  up- 
on him,  that  he  resolved  to  anchor  his  boat  and  receive 
them  as  warmly  as  the  disparity  of  numbers  would  pier- 
mit  him.  He  men  gave  them  a  dischaige  of  his  great  sun, 
wij^  much  effect,  thou^  to  the  injury  of  the  piece,  which 
being  fired  a  second  time,  and  the  carriage  breaking  down, 
it  became  necessary  to  oppose  the  enemy,  who  were 
closing  fast,  by  the  boarders.  With  these,  Mr.  Shead 
resisted  them,  until  his  deck  was  covered  with  men,  and 
the  vessel  entirely  fiurrounded  by  the  barges.  Such  Was 
the  impetuous  fury  of  Uie  English  sailors,  that  the  Ame- 
ricans were  driven  below,  and  the  authority  of  the  ene- 
my's officers  could  scarcely  protect  them  from  violence. 
The  flag  was  struck,  and  the  boat  carried  off  in  triumph 
to  the  men  of  war.  In  this  assault,  the  British  lost  T  kill- 
ed and  12  wounded.  Qn  board  the  boat,  7  men  were 
wounded,  but  none  killed.  The  squadron  was  all  this 
time  firing  at  the  enemy's  ships,  who  retu-ed  after  captur- 
ing Mr.  8nead,  ^e  Martin  having  been  extricated,  from 
her  situation  on  the  shoal.  On  board  the  flotilla  not  a  man 
was  injured,  and  but  1  of  the  boats'  ri^ng  cut;  this  was 
No.  135,  commanded  by  sailing  master  Moliere.  Th^ 
engagement  continued  nearly  two  hours,  and  was  the 
last  affair,  of  any  consequence,  which  occurred  in  the 
Delaware  during  this  year. 

In,  and  along,  the  shores  of  the  bay  of  Chesapeake, 
where  the  blockading  squadron  consisted  of  four  74%  se- 
veral frigates  and  lai^  sloops  of  war,  and  a  number  of 
tenders  and  bai^s  kept  for  tne  purpose  of  navigating  the 
smallest  inlets,  depreciations  of  every  kind,  and  to  a  very 
extensive  degree,  were  carried  on  mih  unremitted  avidi- 
ty. The  various  farms,  boiinded  by  the  different  creeks 
and  rivers,  tributary  to  the  bay,  became  the  scenes  of 
indiscriminate  and  unjustifiable  plunder..  The  stocks  of 
many  of  them  were  completely  aestroyed ;  the  slaves  df 
the  planters  allured  from  their  service,  armed  against  their 
masters'  defencdless  families,  and  encourf^d  to  the  com- 
missicm  of  every  kind  of  pillage.  Along  a  coast  of  such 
an  extent,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  station  troqps  to  re- 
sist every  incursion,  or  to  draw  out,  and  transfer  from 
one  point  to  another  with  sufficient  celerity,  even  the 
neighbouring  militia.    But  many  instances  occurred,  not- 


■•# 


SOB 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


vithstanding*  in  which  the  invaders  were  opposed,  and 
sometimes  severely  repulsed,  by  a  handful  of  militia,  col- 
lected without  auuiority,  and  frequently  without  a  leader. 
On  the  shores  of  die  Rappahannock,  one  or  two  divisions 
of  the  enemy  were  beaten  and  routed  with  loss,  by  a  small 
party  of  Virginia  militia.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Easton, 
r&faryland,)  they  took  possession  of  several  islands. 
From  Sharp's,  Tilghman's,  and  Poplar  island,  they  ob«> 
tained  provisions  for  the  fleet,  and  attempted  many  incur- 
sions to  ihe  opposite  shores,  their  success  in  which  was 
prevented  by  Dodies  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  which  the 
spirited  citizens^  of  Maryland  had  arranged,  at  different 
rendezvous,  alone  the  shores  of  the  bay,  in  antjicipation  of 
a  visit  from  the  blockading  fleet. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  fleet,  sir  John  B.  War- 
ran,  was  at  this  time  in  Bermuda,  making  preparations 
for  its  augmentation;  and  the  vessels  then  in  the  bay, 
we're  commanded  by  rear  admiral  George  Cockbum. 
About  the  latter  end  of  April,  this  officer  determined  on 
attacking  and  destroying  the  towns  most  contiguous  to 
the  head  of  the  bay;  and  for  this  purpose,  on  the  29th, 
he  led  a  few  hundred  of  his  marines,  in  the  baizes  of  hi» 
ship,  the  Marlborouffh,  to  the  attack  of  Frencntbwn,  a 
place  containing  2  welling  houses,  £  store-houses,  and 
several  stables;  and  importent,  only  because  of  beinff  a 

filace  of  intermediate  depot  between  Baltimore  and  Rii- 
adelphia.  A  part^  of  militia,  from  Etkton,  too  inferior 
to  the  invaders  to  justify  an  attempt  at  resistance,  retired 
on  their  approach,  and  admiral  Cockbum  landed  his  ma- 
rines and  aestroyed  the  store-houses,  in  which  %v«re  de- 
posited a  quantity  of  goods  belonging  to  merchr^nts  of 
tfiose  cities,  of  immense  value,  and  a  splendid  architec- 
tural drop  curtain  and  other  paintings,  belon^ng'to  tiie 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  theatres.  The  marines  being 
no  professed  admirers  of  the  arts,  these  were  destroyed 
without  much  hesitation.  The  private  houses  were  saved 
by  the  interference  of  some  respectable  citizens;  and  af- 
ter plundering  the  others,  and  setting  fire  to  two  vessels 
laying  in  the  harbour,  the  British  returned  to  their  ship- 
ping. 

Havre  de  Grace,  a  small  town  containing  about  sixty 
houses;  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susauehanna, 
about  two  miles  from  the  head  of  the  bay,  anq  through 


4>F  THE  LATB  WAB« 


209 


losed,  and 
ilitia,  col- 
,t  a  l^er. 
)  divisions 
by  a  small 
orEaston, 
il  islands. 
,  they  ob* 
any  incur- 
which  was 
which  the 
,t  diflferent 
cipation  of 

ft  B.  War- 
«parations 
n.the  bay, 
Cockburn. 
rmined  on 
tiguous  to 
1  the  Wih, 
Lives  of  hi» 
icntbwn,  a 
ouses,  and 
of  beinff  a 
i  and  rhi- 
)o  inferior 
ce,  retired 
ed  his  ma- 
were  de- 
rchiints  of 
architec- 
ing'to  the 
ines  being 
destroyed 
^ere  saved 
9;  and  af- 
vo  vessels 
heir  ship- 

lout  sixty 

Buehanna, 
i  through 


which  the  great  post  road  passes,  was  the  next  object  in 
the  plan  ci'  the  admiral's  operations.  On  the  morninjg  of 
the  3d  of  May  (1813).  he  proceeded  to  its  assault,  with  19 
barges;  and  when  within  a  short  distance  of  the  town, 
commenced  a  tremendous  bombardment,  accompanied  by 
the  firing  of  cannon  and  die  discharge  of  numerous  rock- 
ets. In  expectation  of  an  attack  from  the  enemy,  a  batr 
tery  had  been  erected,  of  two  6  pounders  and  one  9,  and 
colonel  Smith  ordered  out  a  detachment  of  the  Hartford 
county  militia  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  At  the  time 
of  the  assault,  the  inhabitants  were  in  their  beds;  and 
there  being  no  sentinels,  the  first  notice  they  had  of  ^e 
approach  of  the  enemy,  was  from  the  discharge  of  one  of 
his  pieces.  .The  battery  had  been  ass^ed  as  a  place  of 
rendezvous,  in  the  event  of  an  attack:  but,  such  was  the 
surprise  which  the  presence  of  the  enemy  excited,  and  so 
incessant  his  dischai^s  of  shells  and  rockets,  that  five  or 
six  men  only,  were  fearless  enough  ta  repair  to  their  breast- 
work, and  resist  the  approaches  of  the  British  baives.  Tliis 
small  party  kept  up  a  fire  from  the  battery,  until  the  ene- 
my's advance  commenced  its  debarkation ;  when  all,  ex- 
cept O'Neill,  an  Irishman,  abandoned  their  posts,  and  fol- 
lowing the  militia,  who  had  fled  with  shameful  precipita- 
tion, left  >the  women  and  children  of  the  place,  to  the 
mercy  of  the  invaders.  O'Neill  continued,  with  ffl'eat  dif- 
ficulty, to  dischar^  one  of  tlie  6  pounders,  until,  in  recoil- 
ing, it  ran  over  his  thigh,  and  rendered  him  incapable  of 
further  resistance  in  that  way.  But,  collecting  all  his 
strength,  he  armed  himself  with  two  muskets,  ana  retreat- 
ed from  the  battery  to  the  centre  of  the  town,  where  he 
joined  Mr.  Bennet  Barns,  an  old  and  respectable  native 
of  Maryland,  and  kept  up  a  brisk  fire,  until  they  were 
both  made  prisoners.  In  the  mean  time,  the  whole  body 
of  the  enemy  had  landed,  and  were  actively  engaged  in 
destroying  the  houses.  They  set  fire  to  those  which  had 
not  been  mjured  by  their  shells,  broke  the  furniture,  and 
cut  open  the  bedding  of  the  citizens  to  augment  the  flames; 
destroyed  the  public  stages,  cut  to  pieces  the  private  bag- 
gage of  the  passengers,  tore  the  clothing  of  some  of  the 
inhabitants  from  their  backs,  and  left  to  others  those  only 
which  they  wore.  They  set  fire  also  to  a  house  in  which 
was  a  woman  who  had  been  all  her  lifen  Cripple,  and  then 
but  a  few  days  delivered  of  child.  To  the  ur^nt  supplica- 

S2 


SIO 


HISTORICAL  SIL^TCHES 


tion  of  this  hiipless  bein^  for  protecticn  from  the  flames 
for  herself  and  her  o^^nng,  they  gave  a  brutal  refusal^ 
uttered  too  in  the  most  mdecorous  language.  ^  To  the  hu- 
manity of  some  nei^bour  she  was  ultimately  indebted  for 
herlite.**  Women  and  children,  flying,  in  every  direc- 
tion, to  avoid  a  relentless  foe,  and  to  se^  protection  from 
their  own  countrymen,  were  insulted  by  the  morose  sea- 
men and  marines;  and  the  only  house  (of  Mark  Pringle, 
esqO  which  yet  remained  entirely  uniiyid'ed,  was  sdught 
by  one  and  all,  as  an  asylum.  In  this,  which  was  a  spar 
cioua  and  elegant  private  mansion,  several  ladies  of  the 
first  distinction  had  taken  refuge,  and  among  them  the 
mother  and  sisters  of  commadore  Rodgers,  whose  house 
and  ^rniture  were  much  injured.  An  offi^^er,  who  had 
just  before  made  prisoner  of  O'Neill,  was  entreated  to  suf- 
fer this  house,  at  least,  to  esca^^ie  the  general  conflagra- 
tion; but,  as  he  was  obeying  the  otrders  of  admiral  Cock- 
burn,  the^most  he  could  do,  was  to  suspend  his  purpose, 
until  tiiose  unprotected  women  could  prevail  upon  the  ad- 
miral to  oountermand  thetn.  The  only  act,  partaking  of 
the  least  degree  of  humanity,  of  which,  on'  this  occasion, 
the  admiral  could  boast,  was  his  compliance  with  tiiese 
earnest  entreaties.  Havine  spread  desolation  throuj^  *he 
whole  town,  and  destroyed  me  doors  and  windows  of  a 
handsome  church  contiguous  to  it,  the  admiral  ordered  a 
detachment  six  miles  up  the  river,  to  a  place  called  Cres- 
weU*8  Ferry,  whence,  alter  committing  many  actc  o^  out* 
raee,  they  returned  to  concentrate  their  force  at  the  place 
oflanding.  Here  the  admiral  ordered  them  to  re-embark; 
ai^,  having  crossed  the  Susquehanna,  the  whole  pquadron 
of  his  barges,  made  round  the  poi'it  which  is  formed  at  its 
i^tffance,  tnkd  shaped  their  course  three  miles  further  up 
ik&  bay,,  where  iha  party  relanded,  repaired  to  those  im- 
portant-jMid  valuable  works,  Coecil  furnace,  whers  lay  up- 
waixbtK  50  pieces  of  elesant  cannon,  the  only  legitimate 
object  9f  destruction  which  the  invaders  had  yet  met  with. 
These  they  spiked,  stufled  the  muzzles  with  clay  and 
iNfoken  pieces  of  iron,  and  after  many  attempts  to  burst 

•  This  fact  is  well  authejitical. J,  and  was  related  toUhe  auth.or 
by  »  gentleman  then  an  inhabitant  of  Havre  de  (xrace,  but  no>v  a 
reside  i^t  of  Fhiladelphia,  who  was  in  the  town  at  that  time. 


OF  THB  LATE  WAR. 


211 


le  flames 
refusaU 
» the  hu- 
ebted  for 
ry  direc- 
ion  from 
rose  sea- 
Pringle, 
IB  Sought 
ras  a  spar 
es  of  the 
them  tiie 
me  house 
who  had 
^  to  suf- 
:onflagra' 
ral.Cock- 
>  purpose, 
m  the  ad- 
rtakin^  of 
occasion, 
irith  these 
rough  *he 
lows  of  a 
ordered  a 
ed  Cres- 
tc  o*^  out» 
the  place 
t-embark ; 
fquadron 
led  at  its 
urther  up 
those  im- 
5  lay  up. 
gitimate 
net  with, 
clay  and 
to  burst 

he  author 
>ut  noAv  a 
Irae. 


them,  knocked  oft*  the  loops.^  The>  then  proceeded  to 
batter  down  the  fomace,  which  was  private  property,  set 
fire  to  the  stables  belonging  to  it,  and,  as  the  last  act  of 
atrocity,  with  which  ihU  expedition  was  destined  to  be 
markea,  they  tore  up  a  small  bridge,  constructed  over  a 
deep,  thou^  ^nanrow  creek,  and  over  which,  travellers  of 
every  description  were  obliged  to  pass,  or  ventjtire  Hirou^ 
a  wider  channel  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  their  lives. 

Having  attained  all  the  objects  of  this  enterprise,  the 
British  sailors  and  marines  returned  to  their  shipping  in 
the  bay;  and,  on  ihe  6th,  tiiey  sailed  from  the  nei^bour- 
hood  of  Havre  de  Grace,  to  tiie  great  joy  of  its  distressed 
and  ruined  inhabitants.  (KNeilf,  who  had  dared  to  resist 
them  in  the  early  stage  of  their  proceedings,  was  taken 
on  board  the  blockflding  fleet,  and  detained  there  several 
days.  Such  of  the  inhabitants,  whp  were  not  left  entirely 
destitute,  were  deprived  of  those  articles  of  property, 
which  wouM  relieve  o^ers;  and,  it  became  necessary  to 
apply  for  assistance  to  the  principal  and  most  opulent 
town  of  Maryland.  The  citizens  of  Baltimore  >cjd«;ved 
the  sufferers,  «nd  preparations  were  soon  after  made  to 
rebuild  the  hou'jes. 

In  the  relation  of  such  scetiesras  those  which  occurred 
at  Havre  de  Grace,  it  seldom  happens  tiiat  iiVk  account  is 
to  be  ^ven  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  an,  action.  In 
the  sli^t  resistance  which  was  miide  by  t>Neill  and  his 
companions,  however,  the  enemy  had  three  men  killed 
and  two  wounded.  Of  the  militia,  one  man  was  killed  by 
the  explosion  of  a  rocket 

Fraught  with  the  immenp.e  booty  which  he  had  brou^t 
away  from  Havre  de  Grace,  and  findins  his  sailors  and 
mannes  quite  elateil  at  die  facility  v/hich  the  jHrospect  of 
an  attack  on  other  eqtuily  defenceless  towns  held  out, 
of  enriching  themselves,  the  reur  admiral  contemplated 
an  efrly  assmlt  upoi^  such  as  he  should  discover  to  con- 
tain the  most  valual^le  spoil.  The  treachery  of  some  ci- 
tizens of  the  republic,  and  the  easy  intei-course  which  he 
kept  up  with  his  appointed  aeents,  sach  as  are  employed 
by  officers  on  all  stations,  eniu>led  Him  to  discov^  the  si- 
tuation of  those  towns  and  villages  along  the  bay  shorei» 

*  Some  jf  the  smne  guns  are  now  on  board  the  V  ;'ted  StsAttt 
flrigate  Java. 


31S 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


with  as  much  readiness,  as  he  could  be  wafted  by  hi*' 
ships  from  one  point  of  assault  to  another.  On  tlie  river 
Sassafras,  emptying  itself  into  the  bay,  at  a  short  sailing 
distance  frgim  the  admiral's  anchorage,  and  separating  the 
counties  of  Kent  and  Cqec'il,  stood,  nearly  opposite  each 
other,  the  villages  of  Georeetown  and  Fredericktown, 
containing,  either  of  them,  wout  20  houses.  These  had 
attracted  the  attention  of  admiral  Cockbum,  and  ^he  de- 
termined on  the  possession  of  the  property  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. On  the  6th,  he  therefore  entered  that  river,  with 
18  baizes,  each  carrying  1  great  gun,  and  manned  alto- 
gether by  600  men.  Fredericktown  was  his  first  object. 
At  this  place,  one  small  cannon  had  been  mounted,  and 
about  80  militia  collected,  under  colonel  Veazy.  On  the 
approach  of  the  baizes,  the  latter  commenced  a  heavy 
fire,  and,  havii^  disdiaiged  an  immense  number  of  Ian- 
grage  rockets,  grape  shot,  and  musket  balls,  within  a 
very  few  minutes,  more  than  one  hp^f  of  the  militia  fled. 
35  only,  under  the  colonel,  ^tood  their  ground,  and  work- 
ed the  canr-^n  with  such  skill,  thiit  the  botits,  whose  fire 
was  principally  directed  at  the  battery,  suffered  very  f se- 
verely. The  mvaders  were  gallantly  resisted  r  )re  tliAil 
half  an  hour,  when  they  effected  a  landing,  and  inarch- 
ang  towards  the  town  compelled  tiie  miliiia  to  mihe,-^ 
Cmonel  VeMv  effected  his  retreat,  in  excellent  order. 
Admiral  Cockburn  then  marched  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
to  the  village;  where,  after  having  plundered  the  houses 
of  th^r  most  valuable  moveables,  he  set  fire  to  every 
building  in  ihe  town.  The  entreaties  of  the  distressed 
wmr' .1!  and  children  availed  not  with  the  admiral;  and 
h^  would  not  quit  the  place,  until  he  had  entirely  deprived 
them  of  every  refuge.  Whilst  the  flames,  were  raging  in 
every  part  of^  Frederick,  the  admiral  moved  over  Sassa- 
fras river,  to  Geoigetown,  and  demolished  all  the  stone, 
and  burned  the  wooden  buildings.  The  wretched  inha- 
Ititants  of  the  opposite  towns,  were  left  to  console  each 
other,  and  the  enemy's  squadron  of  barges,  glutted  witii 
firesh  spoil,  retired  to  tlieir  capping. 

Sueceeding  this  afl&ir,  were  several  repulsf  s  of  small 
partie»  of  the  enemy  from  the  shores  of  toe  bay.  Many 
attempts  were  made  to  land  at  the  different  farms,  and 
the  barse  crews  frequently  assailed  the  planters'  houses, 
an4  ilooK.  off  provisions,  clothing,  money  and  plate. 


^f> 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


Sli$ 


sd  by  his' 
tlie  river 
rt  sailing 
rating  the 
Dsite  each 
iricktown, 
rhese  had 
ind  he  de- 
he  inhabi- 
iver,  with 
ined  alto- 
rst  object, 
nted.'and 
',    On  the 
1  a  heavy 
»er  of  lan- 
,  within  a 
tilitia  fled, 
and  work- 
whose  fire 
id  very  f<e- 
r  >re  ttkail 
id  inarch- 
>  retire.— 
ent  order. 
f  his  men, 
he  houses 

to  every 
distressed 
airal;  and 
r  de{)rived 

raging  in 
irer  Sassa> 
the  stone, 
;hed  inha- 
isole  each 
itted  witii 

t 

of  small 

.  Many 
irms,  and 
•8*  houses, 
tc. 


Abcut  this  time,  too.  admiral  Warren  issued  a  procla- 
mation from  Bermuda,  declaring,  besides  the  Chesapeake 
and  Delaware,  the  ports  of  New  York,  Charleston,  Port 
Royal,  Savannah,  and  the  whole  of  the  river  Mississippi, 
to  be  in  a  state  of  risorous  blockade.  From  all  fliese 
ports,  however,  notwiustandinjg  the  efficiency  of  admi- 
ral Warren's  force,  the  public  snips  o(  war  of  the  United 
States,  the  private  armed  vessels,  and  numerous  mer- 
ch^i^tmen,  were  daily  putting  to  sea.  Prizes  to  these, 
which  had  been  captured  at  immense  dbtances  from  the 
coast,  were  continually  sent  into  the  harbours,  declared 
to  be  blockaded ;  and  neutral  vessels  did  not  hesitate,  to 
enter  and  depart,  at  the  pleasure  of  those  concerned  in 
them.  Adm*  >l  Warren,  shortly  after  arrived  in  the 
ChdsapeaV  '  ^  ^ '  ^n  additional  fleet,  and  a  large  nutnber 
of  soldiers  ani  laarines,  under  general  sir  Sidney  Beck- 
wlth.  Between  these  officers  and  admiral  Cockbum,  va- 
rious plans  were  desired  for  the  attack  of  the  more  im- 
portant assailable  towns.  ' 

Bv  *-he  capture  of  the  bay  ctaft,  tliey  were  well  sup-  > 
plie  f/iih  tenders  to  the  difierent  vessels  of  the  fleet,  and 
the  strength  of  their  armament  enabled  them  to  equip  the 
craft  in  a  warlike  manner.  The  revenue  cutter  Surveyor, 
captain  Travis,  was  assailed  by  the  bai^s  and  tender  of 
the  Narcissus  frigate,,  on  tjie  IQth  of  Juni^,  near  York 
rivf?;  and,  after  a  gallant  resistance,  was  captured  by  a 
force  nine  times  supe/i.^ir  to  her  own.  This  cutter  was 
transferred  to  the  Br  -m: »  mce,  and  freauently  employ- 
ed in  pienetrating  th  -i  mt'^w  passes  ana  livuteis  along 
the  shore.  The  dept^iiu.  o-  -  of  the  enemy  received,  about 
this  time,  however,  a  salui^r  chi^ck,  from  several  private 
armed  vessels,  which  had  been  hired  into  the  American 
servit      a  cruise  alone  the  bay. 

The  enemy's  force  mere  cont.  ed  of  seven  74%  twelve 
frigates,  and  maniy  smaller  vessels;  and,  from  their* suspi- 
cious movements,  and  menacing  attitudes,  the  citizens  of 
all  the  surrounding  towns,  became  apprehensive  of  an  at- 
tack. Hampton  c .  '  Norfolk,  were  thought  to  be  their 
more  immeaiate  u:-y  ts?  and  preparations  were  made  at 
the  latter,  to  man  ail  the  works  wnich  had  i  "^en  previous- 
ly constructed.  At  Norfolk,  the  militia  force  very  soon 
cmasisted  of  10,000  men.  At  Hampton  a  force  of  not 
more  than  450,  had  yet  been  organized. 


# 


214 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


On  ^e  18th  (May),  3  of  the  frigates  entered  Hampton 
Aoads,  and  despatched  sevecal  barges  to  destroy  the  small 
vessels  coming  down  James'  river.  Two  or  three  gun  boats 
being  in  the  vicinLh^  of  that  river,  obliged  the  barges  to 
retire,  and  communicated  to  the  naval  commander  of  the 
station,  commodore  Cassin^  intelligence  of  the  approach 
of  the  frigates.  The  flotilla  of  gun  boiits,  in  Elizabeth 
river,  on  which  Norfolk  is  situated,  was  then  commanded 
by  lieutenant  commandant  Tarbel  I.  'Hie  fri^te  Constel- 
lation was  moored  at  the  n^vy  yard  opposite  N(H*fo1k, 
and  it  was  determined  by  commodore  Cassin,  to  man 
fifteen  of  the  gun  boats,  from  the  creivir  of  the  Constella- 
tion, and  to  dispatch  them  a^  )^^t  that  frigate  of  the 
enemy,  which  was  reported  to  ki.  le  Qiiles  ahead  of 
the  omers.  On  the  19th,  captain  1  &  ;ell  proceeded  with 
his  boats,  in  tWb  divisions;  lieutenant  (*ardn^  having 
command  of  the  first,  and  lieutenant  R.  Henly,  of  the 
second,  ^  The  prevalence  o(  adverse  winds,  prevented 
his  coming  witnin  reach  of  the  enemy,  until  4  P.  M.  of 
the  ^th,  at  which  hour'he  stationed  his  divisions,  and 
commenced  a  rapid  fire,  at  the  distance  of  three  quarters 
of  a  mile.  The  frieate  opened  on  the  boats,  and  the  can- 
nonade continued  half  an  hour,  to  the  great  injury  of  t^e 
frigate  (the  Junon),  when  the  other  frigates  were  enabled, 
by  a  fresh  lH%ezr,  to  get  upder  \}rei*ni,  to  the  assistance 
of  their  companion.  Captain  Tarbell  was  then  obliged 
to  haul  off  to  a  greater  distance,  still,  however  k<eeping  up 
a  well  directed  and  incessant  fire,  upon  the  enemy's  whple 
squadron.  The  first  frigate  was,  by  this  time,  so  much 
inured,  that  her  fire  was  only  occasionally  delivered ; 
and,  between  the  others  and  the  gun  boats,  the  cannonade 
was  prolonged  one  hour  longer^  in  which  time,  several 
heavy  broadsides  were  discharged  at  the  flotilla.  Cap- 
tain Tarbell  then  withdrew  froiA  tlie  engagement,  with 
tiie  loss  of  1  killed,  Mr.  Allison,  a  master's  mate,  and  3 
of  the  boats  slightly  injured.  The  enemy  were  supposed 
to  have  suffered  severely.  The  frigate,  first  engaged, 
was  so  much  shattered,  that  the  vessels  which  came  to 
her  assistance,  were  obliged  to  employ  all  their  hands  to 
repair  her.  In  this  affair,  the  Americans  had  15  guns ; 
the  British,  150  and  upwards.  Captain  Tarbell's  con- 
duct, as  well  as  lieutenants  Gardner,  Henly,  and  others, 


OF  TUB  LATE  WAR. 


tis 


Hampton 
the  small 
guii  boats 
barges  to 
ler  of  the 
approach 
Elizabeth 
immanded 
e  Constcl- 
,  Norfolk, 
1,  to  man 
Constella- 
Eitc  of  the 
)  ahead  of 
seded  with 
ler  having 
ily,  of  the 
prevented 
4  P.  M.  of 
isions,  and 
je  quarters 
id  the  can- 
iury  of  the 
>e  enabled, 
assistance 
len  (bilged 
Lfeepingup 
iy*s  wnple 
L  so  much 
[delivered ; 
;annonade 
le,  several 
lUa.    Cap> 
lent,  with 
ate,  and  3 
supposed 
engaged, 
came  to 
hands  to 
15  guns ; 
ell*^  con- 
id  others, 


received  the  fullest  approbation  of  the  surrounding  garri- 
sons, and  of  the  citizens  of  Norfolk. 

The  firing  during  this  acUon,    eing  distinctly  heard  by 
the  enemy's  fleet  in  the  bay,  and  fears  being  entertained 
by  the  admiral,  about  the  safety  of  the  3  frigates,  13  sail 
of  line  of  battle  ships  and  frigates,   were   ordered  to 
proceed  to  Hampton  Roads.    In  tiie  course  of  the  20th, 
they  dropped  to  the  mouth  of  James*  river.  Where  they 
learned  uie  cause  of  the  recent  cannonade,  and  'determin- 
ed on  forthwith  reducing  the  forts  and  garrisons,  on  which 
the  defence  of  Norfolk  depended.    An  immense  number . 
of  bai^s  were  apparently  preparing  for  an  attack  on  Crany 
Island,  the  nearest  obstruction  to  the  enemy's  advances. 
Captain  Tarbell  directed  lieutenants  Neale,  Shubrick,^ 
ana  Saunders,  each  of  the  Constellation,  to  land  100  sea- 
men on  that  island,  to  man  a  battery  on  its  northwest 
side,  and  disposed  tiie  gun  boats  so  as  to  annoy  the  ene- 
my from  the  other.    At  the  dawn  of  the  22d,  tne  British 
approached  t^e  island  with  their  bai^s,  round  the  point: 
of  Nansemorid  river,  to  the  number  of  about  4,000  men, 
mttny  of  whom  were  French,  from  time  to  time  made 
prisoners  by  the  Ei^ish,  and  occasionally  received  into 
their  service.    The  place  at  which  they  iiad  chosen  to 
land,  was  out  of  reach  of  the  gun  Iniats,  and  when 
they  had  approached  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the 
shore,  the  gallant*  lieutenant  Neale,  assisted  Dy  Shubrick 
and  Saunders,  opened  a  galling  fire  from  his  battery,  and 
or    celled  the  enemy  to  make  a  momentary  pause.   The 
battery  was  mannecf  altogether  by  150  men/  including 
lieutenant  Breckenridge  and  his  marines.  An  1 8-pound w 
whieh  was  stationed  at  it,  was  fired  with  such  preeisjon^ 
tluit  many  of  the  bai^s  were  cut  through  the  middle,  and 
would  inevitably  have  carri^  down  the  crew,  but  for  the 
immediate  assistance  rendered  by  tl^e  others  of  the  squa- 
dron.   Every  attempt  to  approach  the  shore  having  here- 
tofore failed,  and  the  admirsd's  boat,  tile  Centipede,  up^ 
wards  of  50  fee',  in  length,  and  filled  with  men,  being 
pierced  in  so  many  places,  that  she  bunk  as  soon  as  she 
was  abandoned,  tne  enemy,  whose  seamen  were  falling 
in  every  barge,  determined  on  returning  to  his  shippiiu; 
with  as  litti&  delay  as  possible.    But,  even  in  his  retreat^ 
he  suffered  severely  from  the  small  battery. 


^H 


216 


HtSTORICAI.  SKETCHES 


Whilst  tlus  gallant  resistance  was  made  to  his  approach- 
es from  the  w&ter,  by  the  navaji  division  on  the  isumd,  thi^ 
enemy's  troopi^  who  had  lanued  on  the  main  shore,  and 
crc^ed  9,  iiarrow  inlet  to  ^e  west  side,  were  warmly  en- 
gaged with  die  Virginia  volunteers.    Previously  to  the 
moveinent  of  the  bai^s^  upwards  of  800  solcuers  had 
been  landed  by  the  enemy  at  the  place  abovementioned, 
and  were  already  crossing  the  inlet,  which,  at  low  water, 
is  passable  by  infantiy.    Colonel  Beatty,  who  command- 
ed tlie  military  division  on  the  island,  made  instant  and 
judicious  preparations  to  receive  the  enemy.  Under  major 
Faulkner,   01  the  artillery,  two  £4-pounders  and  four 
6-pounders,  had  been  drawn  up  to  resist  thenu  One  divi- 
sion ^f  Ihis  battery  was  commahded  bv  captain  Emmer- 
son.;  and  two  x>thersy  by  lieutenants  Howl  and  Grodwin. 
The  enemy's  troops  had  not  all  landed,  when  this  cannon 
was  opeped  upon  them  with  great  address;  and,  those 
which  fiad  not  crossed  the  gulph,  were  compelled  to  re- 
ireat,  by  the  velopity  and  precision  of  the  tire.    Those 
which  had  already  gainad  the  island,  fell  Mck  to  its  rear, 
and  threw  several  rockets  from  a  house  which  stood  there; 
but  they  were  very  soon  dislodged  by  one  of  the  gun  boats, 
in  which  a  S4-pounder,lvas  brought  to  bear  upon  me  house, 
and  wii^  ^^t  difficulty  escapea  firom  the  island;  when, 
joininff  the  trodps  who  had  been  previously  repulsed,  they 
^^^ke  all  conducted  back  to  the  British  fleet.    When  that 
4iVMion  qf  the  enemy,  wjiich  was  composed  of  his  seamen 
and  marines,  hadTbeen  foiled  in  its  attempt  to  land,  lieu- 
.  tenant  Neale  gave  directions  to  his  intrepid  sailors,  to  haul 
up  the, boats  which  had  been  sunk,  and  to  assist  the  British 
sailors  and  marines,  who  were  making,  for  safety,  to  the 
shore.    The  Centipede  was  accordingly  drawn  up,  and  a 
small  brass  S-pounder,  a  number  of  small  arms,  and  a 
quantity  of  pistols  and  cutlasses,  taketi  out  of  her.  2S  of 
her  men  came  on  the  island  with  her,  and  surrendered 
tiiemselves  as  desert    q.    In  this  warm  and  spirited  en- 
^igement,  in  which  S,     >  British  soldiers,  sailors  and  ma- 
rines, were  opposed  to  %uO  Yir^nia  militia,  and  150  sailors 
and  marines,  the  loss  on  the  side  of  the  invaders,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  drownad,  was  upwards  of  200,  exclusive  of 
40  deserters:  on  the  side  of  the  invaded,  not  a  man  was 
either  kSIed  or  woiiiuled. 


emproach- 

here,  and 
armly  en- 
ly  to  the 
dliers  had 
lentioned, 
ow  water, 
command- 
istant  and 
ider  major 
and  four 
One  divi- 
a  Emmer- 
d  Grodwin. 
lis  cannon 
und,  those 
sUed  tbre- 
e.    Those 
to  its  rear, 
tood  ihen; 
sun  boats, 
the  house, 
nd;  when, 
ilsed,  Ihey 
IVhen  that 
his  seamen 
and,  lieu- 
>rs,  to  haul 
khe  British 
•fy,  to  the 
up,  and  a 
ms,  and  a 
ler.   22  of 
rrendered 
jirited  en- 
and  ma- 
150  sailors 
in  killed, 
:clusive  of 
mac  was 


OF  THE  LAT£  WAK. 


U7 


By  tlie  gallant  services  of  the  defenders  of  this  island, 
the  safety  of  the  town  of  Norfolk  was,  for  a  time  at  least, 
secured;  and  to  the  intrepid  bravery  and  indefatirable 
exertions  of  lieutenant  Neale,  and  his  companions,  Shu- 
brick,  Saunders,  and  Breckenbridee ;  of  lieutenant  colo- 
nel Beatty,  and  his  officers,  major  raulkner,  captain  Em- 
merson,  and  lieutenants  Howl  and  Goodwin;  and  2  non- 
commissioned volunteers,  sergeant  Young  and  corporal 
Moffit»  and  th&  valiant  men,  who  assisted  in  the  derence 
of  the  island,  the  gratitude  of  the  citizens  of  NoHfbtk,  and 
the  surrounding  towns,  Portsmouth,  Gosport,  and  oUiers, 
has  been  frequently  manifested. 

Immediately  after  this  re]^lse  of  the  British,  a  confer- 
ence was  held  between  admirals  Warren  ai\d  Cockburn, 
and  sir  Sidney  Beckwith;  the  result  of  which  was,  a  de- 
termination to  avenge  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  and  to 
facilitate  the  success  of  their  next  attempt,^  by  cutting  off 
the  communication  between  the  VLpper  part  of  Virginia 
and  the  borough  of  Ij^orfolk.  This  communication,  they 
supposed  to  be  entirely  commanded  by  the  small  garrison 
at  HamptQu,  an  inconsiderable  town,  18  miles  distant 
from  NotfoJk,  and  separated  from  it  by  Hampton  Roads. 
Their  troo^js,  exasperated  at  the  failure  of  tlie  recent  ex- 
pedition :<gainst.  Crany  island,  were  well  disposed  to  re- 
taliate tlie  consequences  of  a  repulse;  and  their  comman- 
ders availing  themselves  of  the  intemperate  spirit  which 
was  manifested  throughout  the  fleet,  resolved  on  forward- 
ing an  expedition  against  this  weidc  position,  with  the 
least  possible  delay.  All  things  beine  ready  upon  their 
part,  they  proceeded  on  the  ^th,  j  days  after  the  late 
engagement,  with  upwards  of  2,000  men,  in  a  large  squa- 
dron of  their  principal  barges.  Of  these,  the  1(^  regi- 
ment, 2  coxifipanies  of  Canadian  chasseurs,  and  3  compa> 
nies  of  marines,  composed  the  advance,  under  lieutenant 
colonel  Napier.  The  remainder  of  the  troops  consiited 
of  royal  marine  battalions,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Wil- 
liams'; the  whole  commanded  bv  sir  Sidney.  A  number 
of  launches  and  rocket  boats,  filled  with  sailors,  and  co- 
vered by  the  sloop  of  war  Mohawk,  captain  Pechell,  were 
commanded  by  admiral  Cockburn,  and  directed  to  take 
a  station  before  the  town,  to  throw  in  the  rockets,  and 
keep  up  a  constant  cannonade,  whilst  the  troops  under 
sir  Sidney,  should  land  at  a  diataiice  of  sevenl  milea  be- 

T 


218 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


low  the  town,  and  sain  the  rear  of  the  undisciplined 
American  militia.  'Hie  plan  of  operations  being  thus  ar- 
ranged, the  movement  was  commenced  at  the  dawn  of 
day ;  and,  with  this  irresistible  force  and  equipment,  the 
enemy  proceeded  to  assault  a  garrison,  oi  349  infantry 
and  nile,  62  artillerymen,  with  four  l^*s  and  thi^ee  6*8 
and  9.7  cavalry:  making  in  alt,  a  force  of  438  men. 

On  the  approach  of  mat  division  of  the  enemy,  which 
was  to  attack  from  the  water,  major  Crutchiield,  the  com- 
mandant at  Hampton,  immediately  formed  his  troop  on 
Little  England  Plantation,  which  was  divided  from  the 
town  by  a  narrow  creek,  over  which  a  slight  bridge  had 
been  previously  constructed.  The  enemy's  barges  were 
approaching  this  creek,  and  keeping^  up  a  fire  of  round 
shot,  until  they  gained  Blackboard  Toint,  when  the  four 
12-pounders  were  opened  upon  them,  with  so  much  ef- 
fect, that  admiral  Cockburn  thought  it  advisable  i»  draw 
back  and  shelter  himself  behind  the  point.  Thence  he 
continued  to  throw  his  rockets,  and  12's  and  18*s  nearly 
an  hour,  without  doing  the  smallest  injury  to  the  encamp- 
ment; his  shot  either  fallitig  short  <)f  nis  object,  or  going 
over  it. 

Meantime  sir  Sidney  had  landed,  and  was  comii^  down 
the  great  road  on  the  rear  of  the  Americans,  wheiv  major 
Crutchfield  being  ap;^rised  of  his  inarch,  had  despatched 
a  rifle  company  under  caplain  Servant,  to  conceal  tiiem- 
selves  in  a  wood,  near  which  the  invaders  would  be 
obliged  to  pass.  Captain  Servant  executed  his  orders 
with  the  utmost  precision,  and  annoyed  the  advancing 
British  column  with  great  severity.  But  his  force  was 
too  inefficient,  to  sustain  a  contest  of  any  length  of  time; 
and  major  Crutchfield,  seeing  that  the  barges  would  not 
approach  until  they  knew  of  the  arrival  of  sir  Sidney 
within  the  camp,  drew  out' the  infantry  forces  to  the  aid 
of  the  riflemen,  and  to  prevent  the  en«my  cutting  off 
his  retreat.  As  this  portion  of  the  Americans  were 
marching  in  column,  near  a  defile  which  led  to  Seley*s 
road,  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy's  musketeers 
from  a  thick  wood  at  200  yards  distance.  Major  Crutch- 
field immediately  wheeled  his  column  into  line,  and 
marched  toward  the  thicket  to  return  the  fire,  and  rout 
the  enemy.  He  had  not  advanced  50  yards,  before  the 
British  delivered  him  a  fire  fr^/m  two  6-pounder8,  accom- 


«■> 


OF  THE  I.ATE  WAR. 


219 


rs,  accom- 


pmiied  by  an.  unexpected  discharge  of  rockets.  Being 
now  apprised  of  the  danger  of  proceeding  in  that  direc- 
tion i^inst  ordnance,  with  ao  small  a  force,  he  wheeled 
again  into  column,  and  attempted  to  gain  a  passage 
through  the  defile,  in  the  woods;  ai  the  extremity  of  which 
captain  Servant,  witii  his  riflemen,  had  heretofore  kept  the 
Bntish  in  continued  check.  His  column,  under  the  fire 
from  the  two  6's  was  not  formed  with  as  much  celerity 
as  it  had  been  displayed,  but  he  succeeded  at  length  in 
putting  it  in  marching  order,  and  proceeded  to  the  de- 
file. Captain  Cooper,  with  the  cavalry,  was  at  this  mo- 
ment engaged  with  the  enemy's  left  flank;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  fatigue  which  his  troops  had  already  expe- 
rienced in  patroUing,  he  annoyed  them  so  successful y, 
that  the  Bntish  general,  augmenting  the  strength  of  thaw 
flank,  issued  a  direction  to  cut  him  off.  In  this  the  ene- 
my did  not  succeed:  and  captain  Cooper,  drawing  Hp  his 
troop  in  a  chai^ng  column,  effected  his  retreat  wtui  great 
skill  and  intrepidity. 

The  column  under  major  Crutchfield,  had  now  gained, 
and  were  p;«ssing  through  the  defile,  under  a  constant 
fire  firom  the  encfmy's  6-pounders.  It  had  just  attained 
the  wood,  on  the  left  of  tlie  riflemeh,  when  a  third  6- 
pounder  opened  upon  it,  and,  in  conjunction  with  the 
others,  tlirew  into  confusion  the  different  companies  of 
which  the  column  was  composed.  Several  platoons 
immediately  took  up  their  retreat;  but,  thpse  which  were 
nearer  the  head  of  the  column,  led  oii  by  maiot^  Crutch- 
field  and  major  Corbin,  wheeled  ^ith  great  juagment  into 
the  wood,  and  formins  on  the  rifle  corps  un^er  their  se- 
parate captains.  Shield  and  Hemdon,  kept  up  the  action 
with  an  unflagging  spirit,  until  it  was  deemed  necessary  for 
the  whole  body  to  retreat.  Captain  Pryor,  who  had  been 
left  in  the  encampment  with  the  artillery,  to  continue  the 
fire  upon  the  enemy's  bai^s,  resisted  their  approaches 
until  the  sailors  had  landeain  frooi  of  the  town,  and  the 
British  troops  were  in  his  rear.  They  had  already  ad- 
vanced within  60  yards  of  his  battery;  his  corps  were 
ready  to  ^ield  themselves  up  as  prisoners  of  war^  and  the 
royal  marines  were  preparing  to  take  them.,  They  saw  no 
possibility  of  escaping,  until  meir  sallant  commander  gave 
an  order  to  spike  the  guns,  and  oreak  through  the 'ene- 
my's rear.    Intrepid  as  himself,  they  instanuy  executed 


220 


HiSTORICAL  SK£TCH£ii 


i^ 


kif  commands ;  and  pressing  furiously  through  the  British 
marines,  whom  they  threw  into  a  temporary  derange- 
ment, found  their  further  escape  obstructed  by  the  creek. 
Captain  Pryor  still  determined  on  retiring  beyond  the 
enemy^9  reach,  threw  himself  into  the  creek,  and  com- 
mancung  his  men  to  follow,  with  their  carbines,  effected 
the  retreat  of  his  corps  in  good  order,  and  without  an  indi- 
▼idual  loss.  Such  was  the  disparity  of  force,  when  the 
baige  cr€iws,  and  the  troops  of  the  enemy  had  effected 
a  union,  that  the  retreat  of  the  whole  American  detach- 
ment, became  indispensable,  and  major  Crutchfield  gave 
an  order  to  that  effect  The  British  ^neral  pursued  the 
retreadng  column  about  2  miles  without  effecting  any 
inirpose,  though  the  latter  frequently  halted,  formM  be- 
nina  fences,  and  delivered  a  smart  fire. 

The  American  loss,  in  this  action,  amounted  to  7  kil- 
led, 12  wounded,  11  missing,  and  one  prisoner — total,  31. 
The  British  loss,  by  the  acknowledgment  of  many  of 
their  officers,  amounted  to  90  killed,  and  120  wounded-— 
total,  210.  Among  ihese  were  one  colonel  and  one 
captain  of  marines,  killed ;  and  3  lieutenants,  wounded. 
Aamiral  Warren's  official  letter,  however,  allows  but  5 
killed,  33  wounded,  and  10  missing— total,  48. 

If  the  account  of  the  affair  at  nampton,  could  be 
closed,  by  no  further  reference  than  to  the  gallantry  of 
captains  Ashly,  Cary,  Miller,  and  Brown  of  the  militia; 
captain  Goodall>  of  the  United  States*  artillery,  and  lieu- 
tenants Anderson,  Armistead,  and  Jones,  wno  were  all 
conspicuously  engaged  in  it;  a  painful  recital  would  have 
been  spared,  of  occurrences  disgraceful  to  the  arms  of 
tile  enemy,  unjustified  by  the  principles  of  civilized  war- 
far^  and  unparalleled,  even  by  the  enormities  committed 
on  the  northwestern  frontier.  The  troops  und^r  sir  Sid- 
ney, and  the  sailors  under  admiral  Cockoum,  no  sooner 
found  themselves  in  possession  of  the  town  of  Hampton, 
than  they  indulged  in  a  system  of  pillage,  not  less  indis- 
criminate than  that  which  had  attended  the  visit  of  most 
of  the  same  men  to  Havre  de  Grace.  To  these  acts  of 
Cruelty  and  oppression  upon  the  unresisting  and  innocent 
inhabitants,  they  added  others  of  the  most  atrocious  and 
lawless  nature,  the  occurrence  of  which,  has  been  proved 
by  the  solemn  affirmation  of  the  most  respectable  people 
of  that  country.    Age,  innocence,  nor  sex,  could  protett 


■# 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


221 


e  British 
lerange- 
le  creek, 
^ond  the 
Dd  coin- 
effected 
;  an  indi- 
irhen  the 
effected 
1  detach- 
eld  gave 
Bued  the 
ting  any 
rm^  be- 
to  7  kil- 
total,  31. 
many  of 
mnded— 
and  one 
nround^d. 
ivs  but  5 

;Ould   be 
lantry  of 
I  militia; 
and  lieu- 
were  all 
mid  have 
arms  of 
zed  war- 
>mmitted 
ir  sir  Sid- 
o  sooner 
lampton, 
«s  indis- 
;of  most 
e  acts  of 
innocent 
»ous  and 
n  proved 
e  people 
protetf 


the  inhabitak?ts,  whose  inability  to  escape,  obliged  them 
to  throw  themselves  upon  the  mercy  or  the  conquerors. 
The  persons  of  the  women  were  indiscriminately  vio- 
lated. The  brutal  desires  of  an  abandoned  and  profligate 
soldiery  were  gratified  within  the  view  of  those  who 
alone  possessed  the  power  and  authority  to  restrain  them; 
and  many  of  the  unfortunate  females,  who  had  extricated 
themselves  from  one  party,  were  pursued,  overtakeii,  and 
possessed,  by  another.  Wives  were  torn  from  the  sides 
of  their  wounded  husbands;  mothers  and  daughters,  strip- 
ped of  their  clothing  in  the  presence  «f  each  other;  and 
those  who  had  fled  to  the  river  side,  and  as  a  last  reiiige 
had  plunged  into  the  water,  ^ with  their  infant  children 
in  their  arms,  were  driven  again,  at  the  point  of  the  bayo- 
net, upon  the  shcMre^  where  neither  their  own  entreaties 
and  exertions,  nor  the  cries  of  their  offspring,  could  re- 
strain the  remorseless  cruelty  of  the  insatiable  enem^, 
who  paraded  the  victim  of  his  lust  through  the  ^public 
streeto  of  the  town.  An  old  man,  whose  infirmities  had 
drawn  him  to  the  very  brink  of  the  grave,  was  murdered 
in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  almost  as  infirm  as  himself,  and 
her  remonstrance  was  followed  by  the  discharge  of  a  pis- 
tol into  her  breast  The  wounded  militia,  who  mid  crawl- 
ed from  the  field  of  battle  to  the  military  hospital,  were 
treated  with  no  kind  of  tendeniess,  even  by  the  enemy's 
officers,  and  the  common  wants  of  nature  were  rigorously 
denied  to  them.  To  these  transcendent  enormities,  were 
addeu  the  wanton  and  profligate  destruction,  not  only  of 
the  medical  stores,  but  of  the  physician's  drug-rooms  and 
laboratories;  from  which  only,  those  who  had  been  wound- 
ed in  battle,  and  those  upon  whose  persons  these  out- 
rages had  been  committea,  could  obtain  tiiat  assistance, 
without  which,  they  must  inevitably  suffer  the  severest 
privations. 

Two  days  and  nights,  were  thus  consumed  by  the  Brit- 
ish soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines;  and  their  separate  com- 
manders, were  all  that  time  quartered  in  the  only  house, 
the  furniture  and  interior  decorations  of  which,  escaped 
destruction.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  at  sunrise, 
:  nprehensione  being  entertained  of  an  attack  from  the 
iKighbouring  militia,  whom  it  was  reasonably  ponjectup. 
ed,  the  recital  of  these  transactions  would  rouse  into  im- 
mediate action,  tlie  British  forces  were  ordered  to  em- 

T2 


^s 


HISTORICAL  SKSTCHE'S 


^ 


I 


i 


m 


bark;  and  in  the  courae  of  diat  morning  they  departed 
from  the  devoted  town,  which  will  immemorially  testify 
to  the  unprovoked  and  unrelenting  cruelty  of  the  British 
troops,     ihey  had  previously  carried  off  the  ordnance 
which  had  been  employed  in  the  defence  of  the  town,  as 
trophies  of  tfieir  victory;  but  when  they  determined  on 
withdrawing  from  the  place,  they  moved  away  with  such 
priecipitation,  that  several  hundred  weight  of  provisions, 
a  quantity  of  muskets  and  ammunition,  and  some  of  their 
men  were  left  behind,  and  captured  on  the  following  day 
by  captain  Cooper's  cavahy.    Having  abandoned  then: 
intentions  of  proceeding  to  another  attempt  on  the  de- 
fences of  Noifolk,  the  whple  fleet  stood  down  to  a  posi- 
tion at  New-Point-Comfort  where  they  proposed  water- 
ing previously  to  their  departure  from  the  bay,  on  an  ex- 
pmlition  ag^nst  a  town  In  one  of  the  eastern  states.    '^;> 
Such  was  the  agitation  of  the  public  mind,  throughoAt 
Virtinia,  which  succeeded  the  cireulation  of  the  account 
of  me  assault  on  Hampton,  that  representations  were  made 
to  general  Robei^  It  Taylor,  th«  commandant  of  the  dis- 
trict, of  the  necessity  of  learning  from  the  commanders 
of  the  Biitish  fleet  and  army,  whether  the  outrages  which 
had  been  committed,  would  be  avowed,  or  the  perpetra- 
tors punished.-«-That  able  officer,  immediately  oespatch- 
td  Ins  aid  to  admiral  Warren,  with  a  cartel  for  the  ex- 
change of  prisoners,  and  a  ]>rotest  against  the  proceedings 
of  the  British  troops,  in  which  he  stated,  that "  the  world 
woold  suppose  those  acts  to  have  been  approved  if  not 
e3td|ed,  which  should  be  passed  over  witn  impunity;** 
that  he  "  thouriit  it  no  less  due  to  his  own  personal  hon- 
our, than  to  mat  of  his  country,  to  repress  and  punish 
every  QTcea&f  tiiat  **it  would  depend  on  him  (Warren), 
whetaer  the  evils  inseparable  from  a  state  of  war,  should 
in  future  operations  oe   tempered   by  the  mildness  of 
civilized  life,  or  under  the  admiral's  authority,  be  aggra- 
vated by  all  the  fiend-like  passions,  which  could  be  instill- 
ed into  ittiem."    To  this  protest,  admiral  Warren  replied, 
iMt  he  would  refer  it  to  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  to  whose 
^Uscretion  he  submitted  the  necessity  of  an  answer.    Sir 
Sidney,  not  only  freely  ayowed,  but  justified  the  com- 
mm^on  of  the  excesses  complained  of;  and  induced  the 
American  commander  to  beueve  the  report  of  deserters, 
that«  promise  had  been  made  to  the  fleet,  of  individual 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


TB 


22d 


>parted 
testify 
Britisn 
dnance 
)wn,  as 
ned  OR 
(Oa  such 
•visions, 
of  their 
ingdaj 
id  their 
the  de- 
»aposi- 
l  water- 

lan  ex- 

M,  -  ■ .  ^■ 
• 

oughout 
account 
ire  made 
the  dis- 
manderB 
iS  which 
erpetra- 
espatch- 
the  ex- 
;eedin|8 
le  world 
d  if  not 
mnity;" 
lal  hon- 
punish 
V^arren), 
should 
tness  of 
eaggra- 
e  instill- 
replied, 
whose 
er.    Sir 
le  corn- 
iced the 
iserters, 
(!ividual 


bounty,  of  the  plunder  of  the  town,  and  of  permission  to 
commit  the  same  acts,  if  they  succeeded  in  tne  capture  of 
Norfolk.  Sir  Sidney  stated,  that  **  the  excesses  at  Hamp' 
ton,  of  which  general  Taylor  complained,  were  occasioned 
by  a  proceeding  at  Crany  Island,  That  at  the  recent  at- 
tack on  that  place,  the  troops  in  a  barge,  which  had  been 
sunk  by  the  nre  of  the  American  guns,  had  been  fired  on 
by  a  party  of  Americans,  who  waded  out  and  shot  these 
poor  fellows,  while  dining  to  the  wreck  of  the  boat;  and 
that,  with  a  feeling  natural  to  such  aproceedins,  the  men 
of  that  corps  lan^d  at  Hampton"  THe  Britisn  general 
expressed  also  a  wish,  that  such  scenes  should  not  occur 
again,  and  that  the  sul^ect  jnight  be  entirely  at  rest  The 
American  seneral,  however,  alive  to  the  reputation  of 
the  arms  ot  his  country,  refused  to  let  it  rest,  and  imme- 
diately instituted  a  court  of  inquiry,  composed  of  old,  and 
unpreiudice-*  officers.  The  result  of  a  long  and  careful 
investigati  which  was  forwarded  to  sir  Sidney  Beck- 
with,  was,  -  none  of  the  enemy  had  been  fired  on  after 
the  wreck  of  the  baq^,  except  a  soldier,  who  attempted 
to  escape  to  that  division  of  tne  British  troops  which  had 
landed,  that  he  was  not  killed,  and  that,  so  far  from  shoot- 
ing either  of  those  unfortunate  men,  the  Ariieriican  troo^ 
had  waded  out  to  their  assistance.  To  this  report,  air 
Sidney  never  deemed  it  necessary  to  reply,  and  the  out- 
rages at  Hampton  are  still  liine^toned.  Many  of  the  unhap- 
py victims  died  of  wounds  and  bruises  inmcted  on  them, 
m  their  stru^les  to  escape,  which  baffled  the  medical 
skill  of  the  surrounding  coun^. 


ipp 


324 


HISTORICAL  SKSTCII£9 


m 


CHAPTER  XV. 


British  land  at  Ocracoke  and  Portsmouth^— Capture,  two 
letters  of  marque— Distribution  of  admiral  Warren's 
fleet — United  States*  schooner  \isp — Ji  fishing  smack, 
the  Fankee,^capturesthe  British  tender,  the  Eagle-^ 
The  frigates  Jjnited  States  and  Macedonian,  and  sloop 
Hornet,  blockaded  at  J^ew  London — Midshipman  Ten 

.    Eyke— The  British  at  Saybrook-n'Engage.iient  in  Con- 

.  necticut  Sound"— Wareham  and  Scittuitt — Occupation 
of  Eashtort,  Moose  lalanA— Attack  upon  Stomngton 

.,  —British  claim  thp,  territory  east  of  the  Penobscot, 
and  occupj  Castin^^Loss  of  the  Umted  States*  frigate 
*Sidam8, 

Reunquishino  the  contemplated  attack  upon  one 
of  the  ejPJstem  ports,  anci  adopting  a  plan  of  operations 
asaitist  the  town?  and  harbours  to  the  southward  of  those, 
vmich  had  alretidy  been  ass&iSed,  admiral  Warren  de- 
tached the  largest  propordon  of  his  fleet,  under  rear  ad- 
miral Cockbum,  to  pro(;eed  on  an  expedition  against 
Ocracoke  and  Bgrtsmoutti,  t^vo  flourishing  harbours  in 
^e  etat^  of  North  Carolina.  Ewly  in  July,  a  force  of  11 
saii  appeared  off  the  first  of  those  places;  and  on  the  13th 
of  t'^k  at  month,  the  rear  admiral  ^irosa^u  die  bar  wi^  a 
mat,  iumber  of  b^^rges,  attacked  two  letters  of  maraue, 
tilie  Anaconda,  of  New  York,  and  the  •Atlas,  of  Philaael- 
phia,  and  after  being  gallantly  resisted  by  the  small  crews 
of  Ihc^  vessels,  earned  tl^em  by  boarding.  Ihe  revenue 
cutter,  which  was  then  in  the  harbour  effected  her  es- 
cape, conveyed  intelligence  to  Newbcirn  of  the  approach 
f  I  vhe  enemy,  and  thus  frusti-ated  the  remainder  of  the 
ailiiiiral's  plans.  A^ut  3,000  ;nen  were  thei.  landed  at 
Portsmouth,  where  they  destroyed  the  private  property 
of  the  inhabitants,  and  treated  the  place  with  no  more 
forbearance  tnan  they  had  shov^^n  at  Geoigetown  and  Fre- 
dericktown.    The  collector  of  the  customs  was  seized 


OF  THB  LA<ill  WAB. 


225 


turfi.  two 
Varrtn's 
^  8mack\ 

,nd  sloop 
man  Ten 
t  in  Con- 
cupation 
mtngton 
enobscot, 
^frigate 


pon  one 
lerations 
of  those, 
rren  de- 
rear  ad- 

against 
>oiiFs  in 
ce  of  11 
the  13th 
r  «trith  a 
marque, 
Hiladel- 
11  crews 
revenue; 

her  es- 
pproach 
r  of  the 
nded  at 
iroperty 
0  More 
nd  Fre- 

seized 


and  taken  on  board  the  fleet,  and  tiie  building  destroyed 
in  which  his  ofl^  was  contained.  After  remaining  two 
days  in  possession  of  these  places,  the  onemy  returned  to 
his  stiippins;  and^  not  feeling  himself  competent  to  the 
attack  on  Newbem,  now  that  its  citizens  were  preparing 
to  receive  him,  he  deiyirted  with  his  squadron  from  Ocrar 
coke,  and  sailed  again  for  Chesapeake  bay. 

The  fleet,  which  had  been  keeping  up  the  blockade  in 
those  waters,  had  been  divided  by  almval  Warren,  and 
the  different  vessels  distributed  along  the  coast  from  New 
London  to  Cape  Henry,  to  watch  the  entrances  to  the 
Karboars  of  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  the  Delaware. 
In  tlie  Chesapeake,  no  further  i  j^uiults  were  made  upon 
the  villages,  but  ihe  farm  houses,  the  noghbonring  coun- 
try scats,  and  the  ittock  upon  the  lands,  and  the  nume- 
rous island  J.,  waich  could  pe  approacheck  by  the  smallest 
barges,  were  indiscriminately  plundered.  Such  islands 
were  taken  possession  of  as  aiflbrded  quarters  for  the 
troops,  and  frequent  excursions  maife  from  them  against  • 
the  defenceless  landholders  in  Iheir  vicinity. 

On  the  14th,  the  United  States'  schooners  Scorpion 
and  ^p,  being  under  weigh  from  the  mouth  of  Veoco- 
mico  river,  were  pursued  by  two  of  the  enemy's  sloops  of 
war;  and,  findmff  it  impossible  for  both  vessels  to  es- 
cft^  throush  theT>ay,  the  Scorpion  continued  her  course, 
while  the  Asp,  a  dull  sailing  vessel,  returned  to  the  river, 
and  was  run  into  Kinsale  creek,  by  her  commander,  sail- 
ing master  Segourney.  The  enemy's  vessels-  anchored 
near  the  bar^  and  despatched  three  barges  filled  with  arm- 
ed men,  ^^v  assault  and  carry  her.  As  these  were  ap- 
proaching, Mr.  Segourney  opened  a  well  directed  fire, 
and  compelled  them,  in  a  little  time,  to  return.  Rein- 
forced, however,  by  two  other  baizes  manned  in  like  man- 
ner, they  again  approached  the  schooner,  and  carried  her 
by  boarding,  thouni  obstinately  resisted  by  her  little  crew, 
to  whom  they  rerased  to  show  quarter.  Her  commander 
had  been  shot  throudi  the  body  by  a  musket  ball,  and 
was  sitting  ^'^n  the  deck  against  tne  mast,  when  tiiey  car> 
ried  her,  and  brou^t  down  her  colours.  In  this  attitude, 
and  suffering  under  the  severity  of  his  wound,  he  wa^^  at 
that  momentj  animating  his  men,  to  repel  the  bcarders, 
when  one  of  the  British  marines  stept  up,  and  shot  him 
through  the  head.    He  expired  instantly,  and  the  next  o£v 


•w 


226 


UISTOBI^Ui  SKETCHCS 


I 


ficer,  Mr.  IVfClintock,  seeing  v^hat  would  be  the  probable 
fate  of  the,  whole  crew,  ordered  his  men  to  save  them- 
selves bj  fii^t.  Those  who  had  not  previously  been 
wounded,  reached  the  shore»  in  safety;  and  the  enemy, 
havinc  set  fire  to  the  schooner,  returned  to  the  squadron, 
thouj^  not  before  they  had  been  fired  upon  by  a  collec- 
tion of  militia,  who  retook  the  vessel,  and  extinguished 
the  flames. 

The  Poictiers  74,  still  commanded  by  sir  John  P.  Be- 
resford,  had  been  stationed  for  several  weeks  at  Sandy 
Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  blockading  the  harbour  of  New 
York.  Numbers  of  small  vessels  had  been  daily  captured 
by  her;  and  one  of  them,  the  sloop  Ei^le,  was  converted 
into  a  tender  to  the  line  of  battle  ship,  manned  with  two 
officers  and  eleven  marines  3  and  equipped  with  a  32  brass 
howitzer.  She  was  constantly  employed  in  the  pursuit 
and  cfq)ture  of  the  coasters,  and  had  already  committed 
various  depredations.  Commodore  Jacob  Lewis,  who 
commandea  a  flotilla  of  30  sail  of  gun  boats,  determined 
on  protecting  the  fishing  boats  and  river  craft,  by  the  cap- 
ture of  this  tender.  He  accordingly  hired  a  fishing  smack, 
called  the  Yankee,  and  placing  about  30  men  on  board, 
under  one  of  his  sailing  masters  (Percival),  and  supply- 
ing him  with  several  articles  of  live  stock,  gave  him  in- 
structions to  proceed  from  the  Hook,  in  the  direction  of 
the  banks,  with  his  armed  men 'concealed  in  the  cabin 
and  fore  peak.  The  sloop  Eagle,  upon  discovering  her 
at  the  Hook,  immediately  gave  chase ;  and,  on  seeing  the 
live  stock,  ordered  the  man  at  the  helm,  Mr.  Percival, 
who  (with  two  men  only  on  deck)  was  dressed  in  the  ap- 
parel of  a  fisherman,  to  steer  for  the  74,  then  Iving  at  a 
distance  of  five  miles.  The  fishing  smack  had  ner  helm 
immediately  put  up,  for  that  apparent  purpose ;  and  being 
by  this  means  brought  along  side,  and  witnin  three  yards 
of  the  Eagle,  her  commander  gave  the  signal,  "Lawrence" 
and  her  men  rushed  up  with  such  rapidity,  and  discharged 
so  brisk  and  unexpected  a  fire,  that  die  crew  of  the  Eagle 
became  panic  struck,  and  many  of  them  ran  below.  Her 
commander,  sailing  master  Morris,  and  one  marine,  were 
killed ;.  and  midshipman  Price,  and  another,  mortally 
wounded.  Percival's  men  were  prepared  for  a  second 
dischaige,  when  a  sailor  on  the  enemjr's  deck  was  seen 
creeping  to  the  howitzer  with  a  lighted  match;  one  of  th^ 


•^^R" 


OF  THE  LA¥£  W  AB. 


227 


trobable 
3  them- 
iy  been 
enemy, 
[ua4ron, 
L  coUec- 
iguished 

I  P.Be- 

t  Sandy 
of  New 
captured 
mverted 
vith  two 
32  brass 
pursuit 
mmitted 
ris,   who 
;ermined 
the  can- 
g  smack, 
»n  board, 
supply- 
hmi  in- 
ection  of 
le  cabin 
ring  her 
leing  the 
ercival, 
the  ap- 
ring  at  a 
er  helm 
id  being 
ee  yards 

charged 
Eagle 
Her 
le,  were 
ortally 
second 
^as  seen 
e  of  the 


e 


crew  of  the  Yankee,  levelled  his  musket,  and  shot  him  in 
the  breast,  and  in  a  second  aftelr,the  flag  of  the  Eagle 
came  down.  The  sloob  and  the  prisoners  were  tiien  taken 
into  the  Hook,  and  delivered  to  the  commodore,  who  pro- 
ceeded with  them  to  New  York,  where  Morris  and  Price, 
(who  died  immediately  after  landing,)  were  buried  by  the 
navi;l  and  military  authorities.  Mr.  Percival  was  pro- 
moted to  the  new  sloop  of  war  Peacock,  and  the  brass 
howitzer  was  transferred  to  the  quarter  deck  of  the  com- 
modore's flag  boat. 

In  consequence  of  commodore  Decatur  having  j^ro- 
ceeded  with  the  frigates  United  States  and  Maceoohian, 
and  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  throu^  the  sound,  to  get  to 
sea  from  the  east^vard,  and  of  his  having  been  driven  with 
his  dqiiadron,  into  New  London,  by  a  superior  detach- 
ment of  the  enemy's  ships,  that  port  was  rigorously  block- 
aded, by  the  Ramilies  74,  two  frigates,  and  several  smaller 
vessels,  under  commodore  sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy.  Every 
effort  to  get  to  sea,  under  the  auspices  of  dark  ni^ts  and 
favourable  winds,  having  proved  unavailing,  in   conse- 

auence  of  the  enemy  being  continually  apprised  of  the 
esigns  of  the  Amencmn  commodore,  ne  was  blockaded 
for  many  months,  without  a  prospect  of  eseuting,  either 
by  the  ordinary  channel  ur  by  the  sound.    Between  de- 
tached parties  from  each  squadron,  several  afiairs  of  mi- 
nor importance  took  place,  during  the  blockade ;  and  in 
one  of  them,  midshipman  Ten  Eyke,of  the  United  States 
frigate,  made  pnsoners  of  two  iieuten#\t8,  two  warrant 
officers,  and  five  seamen,  in  a  house  on  iQardiner*s  island. 
Incursions  into  the  neighbouring  states,  were  frequent 
from  the  British  forces ;  but,  thou^  extensive  numbers 
of  shipping  were  destroyed,  the  conduct  of  the  sailord 
and  marines,  under  sir  Thomas  Hardy,  was  not  marked 
by  the  indiscriminate  commission  of  unrestrained  and 
wanton  outrage,  of  which  there  were  too  many  incidents 
on  the  coast  to  the  southward ;  and  the  houses  of  the 
different  villages,  as  well  as  individualproperfy,  were 
therefore  almost  invariably  respected.    The  general  de- 
portment of  commodore  Hardv,  was  that  of  a  brave,  hu- 
mane, and  ffallant  enemy;  and  had  his  conduct  been  emu- 
lated by  omer  commanders,  the  horrors  and  distressed 
conditions  of  a  state  of  war,  would  have  been  ameliorated 


228 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


on  both  sides;  and  the  necessity  of  manj  instances  of  re- 
taliatory measures,  might  never  have  existed. 

During  the  winter  months  of  1813-14,  scarcely  an  event 
of  consequence  took  place,  on  any  part  of  the  coast,  or  at 
any  of  the  shores  of  ttie  bay  and  riverS;  in  which  the  ene- 
my's vessels  were  anchored.  The  town  of  Killinjworth 
alone,  had  an  opportunity  of  repelling  three  or  four  dis- 
tinct attempts  to  land,  and  of  beating  off  superior  num- 
bers, in  British  bai^s. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1814,  however,  the  enemy  mad^ 
several  movements,  mdicative  of  his  intentions  to  pursue 
an  active  course  of  warfare.  On  the  7th  of  April,  about 
200  sailors  and  mari/ies,  entered  Connecticut  river,  in  a 
number  of  bat^s,  and  landed  at  the  town  of  Saybrook, 
where  they  spiked  the  guns  at  a  small  battery,  and  de- 
stroyed many  trading  vessels.  Thence  they  ascended  the 
river,  to  Brockway's  ferry,  destroyed  all  the  shipping 
there,  and  amused  themselves,  without  any  apprehensions 
of  an  attack,  upwards  of  twenty4bur  hours.  In  the  mean 
time,  a  body  of  militia  had  assemUed,  under  command  of 
a  brigadier  general  of  Connecticut ;  100  men,  and  several 
field  pieces,  were  stationed  on  the  opposite  shore,  &r  ^ 
two  pieces  and  a  party  of  men,  on  the  ferry  side  below; 
captain  Jones,  and  lieutenant  commandant  Biddle  of  the 
Hornet,  arrived  with  a  detachment  of  sailors  from  the 
sauadron,  and  every  thing  was  arran&id  for  the  capture 
01  the  whole  party  of  the  enemy.  The  success  of  the 
{dan  was  inevitabtic;  the  word  only  of  the  general  com- 
mancUng  was  wuted  for;  and,  as  he  was  making  other 
arrangements,  th^  those  adopted  by  these  experi^  need 
officers,  the  enemy  drifted  down  the  river  with  muffled 
oars,  under  cover  of  ^^ark  night,  cheere<i  loudly,  when 
they  had  passed  the  town  of  Stybrook,  and  escaped  to 
the  squadron,  after  destroying  200,000  dollars  worth  of 
shipping.  Several  shots  were  fired  after  them,  but  with- 
out effect.    , 

About  this  time,  the  Liverpool  Packet  privateer  was 
cruisiii^  with  great  success,  against  the  American  com- 
merce m  iue  sound,  and  had  uready  annoyed  the  coast- 
ing trade,  to  an  enormous  extent  Unless  this  cruiser 
was  driven  from  the  sound,  no  coaster  could  sail  from 
one  port  to  another,  with  any  assurances  of  safety.  Com- 


viOF  TU£  IiA^S  WAB. 


2£9 


»cc9  of  re- 

f  an  event 
oast,  or  at 
K  the  ene- 
llin^worth 
'  four  dis- 
rior  num- 

imj  niad« 
to  pursue 
»Fil,  about 
iver,  in  a 
Saybrook, 
,  and  de- 
ended  the 

shipping 
ehensions 
the  mean 
mmand  of 
kd  several 
hore,  i>^^ 
le  below; 
lie  of  the 
from  tiie 
i  capture 
SB  of  the 
iral  com- 
ing other 
3erii  need 
I  muffled 
Jy,  when 
caped  to 

worth  of 
but  with- 

iteer  was 
3an  com- 
he  coast- 
i  cruiser 
lail  from 
y.  Com- 


modore Lewis,  determined  on  an  expedition  against  her. 
He  ssuled  with  the  detachment,  consistiAg  of  Id-  of  his 

r  boats,  d/ove.the  privateer  from  th^  jnouth  (tf  ihe 
jours  in  the  sound,  and  proceeded  to  Black.  Rock, 
New  Haven,  and  Saybrook.  At  tjie  latter  place,  he  Al^ 
chored  on.  the  ^«d  of  May,  and  found  upwards  of  4 9 
sail  of  coafitinff  vessels  lajing  there,  bound  eastward,  bii^'' 
the  masters  of  which  being  fearful  of  the  privateer  and 
the  enemy's  baives.  The  couitstodore  was  applied  to  fbr 
convoy;  l^r-d  tho"^  he  knew  riot  whether  he  could 
yield  any  kipd  of  {>rotec"«on>  against  a  frigate,  a  corvette, 
and  an  armed  sloo|. ,  at  i  hat  monient  in  the  passage  before 
New  London,  ^e  took  the  coasters  under  convoy,  and 
agreed  to  throw  himself  between  them  and  the  enemy, 
(m  the  25th,  he  accordingly  sailed  witfi  the  convoy 
bound  for  New  London,  and  at  5,  P.,  M.  came  to  action 
with  a  frigate  a  sloop  of  war  ^nd  a  tender,  and  continued 
the  engfigement,  until  all  the  coasters  had  safely  passed 
the  enemy  and  arrived  at  New  London.  This  being 
done,  ajltH5)u^  the  whole  objes^t  of  his  attack  was  achiev- 
ed, commodore  Lewis  determined  upon  trying  the  further 
;^«ffect  of  his  hot  shot.  The  boats  were  each  supplied  with 
a  furnace;  and  whilst  they  were  pouririg  hot  balls  into 
the  enemjr's  sides,  and  frequently  setting  him  on  fire,  they 
received  m  turn,  scarcely  a  shot  from  eimer  of  his  vessels. 
Guh  boat^N^o.  6.  was  alon*»  injured;,  and  being  struck  be- 
tween wind  and  water,  was  immediately  grounded,  to 
prevent  her  sinking.  The  sloop  of  war  had,  oy  this  time, 
withdrawn  from  the  en^igement;  and  the  fire  of  the  gun 
boats  was  principally  directed  gainst  the  frigate.  She 
was  observed  several  times  to  be  on  fire;  one  shot 
passed  through  her  very  neai  the  magazine ;  17  of-  her 
men  were  already  killed,  and  a  lieutenant  and  a  great 
number  of  men,  wounded ;  and  the  captain  was  on  the 

Eoint  of  surrendering,  when  he  discovered  that  the  gun 
oats  had'  ceased  firing.  The  night  closed  in  immedi- 
ately, was  excessively  dark,  and  the  commodore  found 
himself  obliged  to  anchor  his  boats,  and  reconnoitre  the 
enemy,  untU  next  morning.  He  intended  to  board  the 
sloop,  but  she  was  stationed  between  the  two  ships,  and 
that  prqject  was  therefore  useless.  At  daylight,  observ- 
ing the  enemy  towing  away  their  vessels,  and  retreating, 
he  instantly  made  signal  for  pursuit;  but  the  report  of  the 


230 


UISTOEICAL  SKETCHES 


cannonade,  had  brought  the  whole  British  fdrce,  consist- 
ing of  7  laive  sait.to  their  assistance,  and  the  (ommodore 
arandoned  BIS  intention  of  renewing  the  action,  and  pro- 
ceeded' up  tlie  sound  to  New  York^  with  the  enemy  in 
hk  rear,  as  far  as  Faulkner's  island.  The  loss  on  board 
the  flotilla,  was  one  man  by  the  recoiling  of  a  gun.  The 
fH^ie  was  supposed  to  be  the  Maidstone,  of  38,  and 
mounting  49  guns  ^  but  several  sailors,  who  deserted  from 
her,  and  were  in  this  action,  reported  her  to  be  the  Hot- 
^ijimti  of  the  same  force.  The  consequences  of  this  en- 
^igement,  aiid  o(  that  which  took  place  below  Crany 
island,  have  occasioned  much  speculation  about  the  utili- 
ty of  gun  boats.  In  each  instance,  it  was  undoubtedly 
prm'^ed,  that,  under  such  x^ircttt!)^tances  as  attended  them, 
the  gun  boats  are  capable  of  ei'eat  annoyance  to  the  lar^ 
gest  ships  of  war.  CommtNlore  jbewis,  whose  activity 
and  enterprise,  rendered  hiin,  of  all  other  men,  capable  of 
manoeuvring  tbem  to  advantage,  has  saved  an  immense 
amount  of  property  to  the  mercantile  interest  of  his  coun- 
try, by  his  repealed  cruises  with  them,  in  and  near  the 
sound. 

But  the  operations  of  the  immense  naval  armaments, 
which  were  maintained  by  the  enemyi  before  th«  ports 
of  New  York,  Boston,  New  I^ondon,  and  the  entrance  to 
the  sound,  were  not  to  be  checked  by  a  flotilla  6f  boats, 
however  well  appointed,  consisting  in  all,  of  but  30  sail; 
and  the  whole  eastern  coast  was  therefore  exposed  to 
the  ravages  of  the  invaders.  The  towns  and  villages 
there,  were  as  exposed  and  defenceless  as  those  to  the 
south;  but  a  degree  of  forbearance  was  manifested  by 
the  commander  On  this  station,  which  prevented  the  com- 
mission of  such  extensive  depredations.  Yet  an  insa- 
tiable hirst  for  plunder,  induced  many  of  the  British 
cruisers  ^  seek  me  destruction  of  every  species  of  public 
property,  of  the  most  flourishing  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, and  of  vessels  carrying  on  a  trade  between  the 
eastern  and  other  ports;  and  Ihe  cupidity  of  the  sailors 
and  marines,  frequently  led  to  the  sequestration  of  private 
property.  At  the  towns  of  Wareham  and  Scituate,  they 
burned  all  the  vessels  at  their  moorings;  and,  at  the  for- 
mer, which  they  approached  under  a  flag  of  truce,  they 
set  fire  to  an  extensive  cotton  manufactory.  But  at  a 
place  called  Boothbay,  they  met  with  a  spirited  opposi- 


on  THE  l^TB  WiJU   ♦ 


2S1 


iTce,  consist- 
i  commodore 
ion,  and  pro- 
he  enemy  in 
0S8  on  board 
a  gun.  The 
,  of  38,  and 
iesertedfrom 
3  be  the  Hot- 
9  of  this  en- 
>eIow  Crany 
out  thie  utih- 

undoubtedly 
:tended  them, 
ce  to  the  lar^ 
hose  activity 
en,  capable  of 

an  immense 
jt  of  his  coun- 

and  near  the 

• 

1  armaments, 
fore  th*"  ports 
e  entranct  to 
(tilla  of  boats, 
f  but  30  sail; 
'e  exposed  to 
and  villages 
those  to  the 
lanifested  by 
ited  the  com- 
ifet  an  insa- 
the  British 
ies  of  public 
[ng  establish- 
between  the 
f  the  sailors 
[on  of  private 
ituate,  they 
,  at  the  for- 
truce,  they 
But  at  a 
ited  opposi- 


tion; and  in  several  des[>erate  attacks*  ^peated  on  dif- 
ferent days,  and  with  various  numbers*  they  were  repul'- 
sed,  with  considerable  loss,  by  the  militia  of  tiie  neigh- 
bourhood. . 

About  thr  month  of  July,  the  blockading  squadron,  un- 
der sir  Thoinas  Hardy,  received  instructions  to  assail,  and 
take  possession,  in  his  Britannic  majesty's  name,  of  Moose 
Island,  near  the  mouth  of  Kobbeskook  river,  opposite 
to  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  and  on  the  western 
side  01  Passamaquoddy  Bay.    This  bay  was  ad|iuc^ed 
by  the  British  ministers,  to  be  within' the  boundary  of 
their  possessions  in  North  America;  and,  after  the  cap- 
ture oi  Moose  Island,  their  forces  were  directed  to  occu- 
py all  the  towns  and  islands  within^s  limits.  On  the  11th 
of  that  month,  sir  Thoq»aa  proceeded  with  the  lU^milies, 
74,  one  60  gun  ship,  3  sIoods  of  war,, and  r  transports, 
containing  between  1500  ana  £000  troops,  with  an  mten* 
tion  of  surprising  the  town  of  Eastport,  containing  about 
1000    inhabitants,  and  situated  upon  Moose  IsLand^-— 
Against  ti^is  force,  no  kind  of  opposition  could  be  made 
by  a  small  garrison,  containing  but  59  men,  43  of  whom 
only,  were  effectives;  and  major  Putnam,  the  comman- 
der, did  not  attempt  to  molest  the  troops,  who  had  alrea- 
dy landed.     Formal  possession  was  then  taken  of  the 
whole  island:  the  officers  in  the  garrison  paroled,  the  pri- 
vates fjonveyed  to  the  squadron,  the  fort,  which  tnen 
mounted  but  6  small  cannon,  enlai^d,  refitted,  and  the 
battery  es^ended  to  60  pieces;  and  a  proclamation  issued 
by  sir  Thomas  Hard v  and  lieutenant  colonel  Andrew 
Pilkington,  in  which  they  declared  all  the  islands  to  have 
been  surrendered,  by  the  capture  of  Eastport;  allowed  7 
days*  residence  to  such  innabitants  as  snould  refuse  to 
swear  allegiance  to  his  Britannic  majesty ;  and  appointed 
a  day  on*  which  they  were  to  assemble  for  that  purpose. 
A^bout  two-thirds  of  the  people  submitted  to  thesp  terms, 
under  an  expectation  of  retaining  their  privileges;  but  in 
the  month  of  August,  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  in 
council,  ordered,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Moose  Island, 
should  not  be  entitled  to  the  rights  of  their  other  subjects, 
notwithstanding  their  oath  of  all^iance ;  but  that  they 
should  ^  treated  ad  a  conquered  people,  and  placed  un- 
der the  control  of  the  military  authority. .  Eastport  was 
soon  after  well  fortified;  and  remained  in  possession  of 


.t*^.-' 


23£ 


T 


HISTtmiCAI.  SKETCHES 


the  British,  until  the  conclusion  of  the  wtir;  before  which 
period,  however,  their  sarrisoii  was,  frequently  weakened 
oj  desertions  of  large  Bodies  of  their  troops;  the  officers 
were  often' compelled  to  perform  the  duties  of  sentinels; 
and  the  difficulties  of  subsisting  the  army  and  the  pec^le 
daily  increased,  by  the  extreme  scarcity  of  provisions,  v  ' 
<Havinsthus  secured  the  possession  of  Moose  Island, 
and  provided  for  its  defence  ajgainst  any  attempt  to  re- 
cover it  by  the  Americans,  sir  Thomas  sailed  to  his  old 
station,  before  New  London;  On  the  9th  of  August  he 
made  signal  for  the  Pactblus  frigate,  44,  the  Tkrrour 
bomb  ship,  and  the  Despatch  brig  of  20  guns,  to  weish 
anchor,  and  sail  with  the  RamilieSf  to  the  attack  of  the 
town  of  Stoningibn,  which  the  commodore  had  been  or- 
dered to  reduce  to  ashes.  The  appearance  of  this  for- 
midable force,  before  a  town,  whicn  possessed  but  weak 
and  inade^^ate  means^of  defence,  excited  an  alarm  among 
the  inhabitants;  which  the  message  of  commodore  Hardy, 
to  move  off  the  unoffending  people  of  the  place>  was  not, 
calculated  to  subdue.  But  having  complied  with  the 
terms  of  tiie  commodore's  note,  and  disposed  of  the 
women  and  children,  tliey  repaired  to  a  small  battery, 
which  had  been  erected  a  few  weeks  before,  ftnd  in  which 
were  mounted  two  18-pounders,  and  one  6.  Those  who 
had  been  drilled  as  artillerists,  were  stationed  at  these 
pieces;  the  flag  was  nailed  to  a  staff,  ajpid  a  sihall  breast- 
woric,  which  h^l  been  hastily  tiirown  up,  was  lined  with 
musketry.  Thus  arranged,  the  handful  of  militia  be- 
longing to  Stonington,  awaked  the  approach  of  the  ene- 
n^y,  with  painful  anxiety.  Expresses  were  forwarded  to 
general  Gushing  of  the  United  States*  army,  command- 
ing at  New  London,  for  a  supply  of  men  and  ammuni- 
tion; and  to  the  neighbouring  districts,  for  a  hasty  levy 
of  militia.  At  8,  in  tlie  evening,  five  baiges,  and  a  lai^e 
launch,  filled  with  men,  and  armed  with  ^pounder  carro- 
iiades,  approached  the  shore,  under  cover  of  a  heavy  fire 
x>f  round,  canister,  and  grape  shot,  and  a  diicharge  of 
shells,  carcasses,  and  rockets.  The  Aitiericans,  jreserv- 
ing  their  fire,  until  the  baiges  were  within  short  grape 
distance,  opened  theiir  two  IB-pounders  upon,  and  com- 
pelled them  to  retire  out  of  reach  of  the  battery.  The 
enemy  then  attempted  to  land  at  the  east  side  of  the 
town,  at  a  point  which  they  supposed  to  be  die  most 


OF  THE  LATB  WAR; 


ZSB 


ore  which 
weakened 
le  officers  * 
sentinels; 
he  people 
dsions. 
se  Island, 
mpt  to  re- 
to  his  old 
luffilst  he 
5  Terrour 
,  to  weigh 
ack  of  the 
d  been  of- 
f  this  for- 
I  hut  weak 
inn  among 
are  Hardy, 
;e»  was  not, 
I  with  the 
led  of  the 
ill  battery, 
d  in  which 
rhose  who 
d  at  these 
lall  breast- 
lined  with 
militia  be- 
}f  the  ene- 
rwarded  to 
command- 
t  ammuni- 
hasty  levy 
indakrge 
ider  carro- 
,  heavy  fire 
icharge  of 
US,  jreserv- 
ort  grape 
and  com- 
sry.    The 
ide  of  the 
the  most 


defenceless.  This  being  discOverad  by  the  militia  artilH- 
ristst  the  6-pottnder  was  immediately  transported  to  that 
side  of  the  town,  and  the-bai^»  were  a  second  time  com- 
pelled to  retire.  They  returned  to  the  shipping,  with  a 
determination  to  renew-  thek*  attack  with  more  Vigour  at 
the  dawn  of  the  following  morning;^  *  The  bombardment 
nevertheless  continued  until  midmght. 

Before  memine  the  enemy's  squadron  was  augmented 
by  the  arrival  of  tiie  JVmi^tM/,  18  gun  brig;  ana  at  the 
dawn  of  day;  the  diffisrent  vessels  were  stationed  nearer 
to  the  town;  the  Despatch  being  within  pistol  shot  of  the 
battery.  The  barges  approached  the  shore  in  lai^  num- 
bers, and  met  with  as  si^al  a  repulse  as  on  the  preceding 
night  One  of  them  was  shattered  to  pieces  by  the  4-poua- 
der  on  the  east  side  of  the  town;'  whilst  a  ouinonade  was 
kept  up  between  the  18-pounder  battery  and  the  ^n 
bng.  Which  resulted  in  her  expulsion  from  her  anchora^. 
She  had  received  several  shot  between  wind  and  water, 
and  was  obliged  to  haul  off  and  repair.  The  hai^s  m.VA 
returned  to  tiie  shipping,  and  the  five  vessels  dnfteo  o'lt 
of  the  reach  of  tiie  battery,  made  new  anchorage,  and  con- 
tinued to  bombard  the  town,  during  that  apd  the  follow- 
ing day.  On  the  13th,  commodore  Hardy,  relinquishing 
any  fiirtiier  attempt  to  reduce  the  town^o  ushes,  and  hav  • 
ing  already  lost  21  men  killed,  and.  upwards  of  50  wound- 
ed^ ordered  his  squadron  to  wei^  anchor,  and  proceed  up 
Fisher's  Island  sound.  The  mh-^'^^'^^Tits  of  Stonington 
were  released  from  their  appreht  i  about  the  safely 

of  their  dwellings ;  and  tiie  womc-  and  children,  some 
time  after  ^stored  to  their  homes.  Notwithstanding  the 
bombardment  had  been  protracted  to  three  successive 
days,  and  upwardsof  sixty  tons  of  metal  had  been  thrown 
upon  tiia^  shore,  not  a  man  of  the  militia  was  killed,  and 
the  number  of  wounded  did  not  exceed  six.  Among 
them  was  lieutenant  Hough,  who  as  well  as  colonel  Ran- 
dal, and  lieutenant  Lathrcip,  greatly  contributed,  by  th^r 
activity  and  skill,  to  the  repute  of  tiie  enemy.  Stoning- 
ton contained,  at  the  time  of  the  attack,  about  one  hun- 
dred houses;  forty  of  these  were  injured  by  the  shot,  but 
ten  only  materiafly;  and  but  two  ^"  *J»ree  entirely  de- 
stroyed. 

Not  content  with  possessing  I  V  j^  island,  and  other 
islands  of  the  bay,  the  British  tlaimed,  as  a  colony,  all 
•  U2 


$54 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


that  part  of  the. district  of  Maine,  lying  to  the  west  of, 
and  between,  Penobscot  river  and  PassarAaauoddy  bay; 
and  instructions  were  also  forwarded  to  sir  Jonn  C,  Sher- 
i)rooke,,  the  governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  aiid  rear  admiral 
Griffeth,  comrnandin^  the  naval  forces  within  that  pro- 
vince, to  take  possession  of  all  that  territory.  These  com-^ 
manders  entered  the  Peqobscot  river  on  the  Ist  of  Sep- 
tember; appeared  before  Castine,  from  which  the  garri- 
son fled,  ai&r  blowing  up  the  fort,  and  which  the  British 
immediately  occupiea.  A  proclamation  was  then  issued 
by  tiie  governor  and  the  actmiraU  in  which  they  claimed 
as  the  territory  of  H.  B.  M.  that  part  of  the  province  of 
Maine,  east  ot  the  Penobscot,  in  which  there  were  more 
^n  40  villages,  and  upwards  of  30,000  inhabitants.  Af- 
ter possessing  Castine,  many  of  these  villages  were  gra- 
dually occupied,  and  ordinances  were  established  for  the 
.  civil  and^  military  government  of  the  people.  Castine, 
also  r&Doiained  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  until  the  con- 
clusion of  hostilities.  % 

The  United  States'  frigate  Adams,  captain  Morris  had 
arrived  in  the  Penobscot,  from  a  successful  cruise,  a  few 
days  before  the  opcupa^n  of  Castine;  and  having  run 
upon  the  rocks  near  that  port,  was  obliged  to  be  hove 
dpwii  at  Hampden,  thirty-five  miles  up  ^e  river*  te;  have 
her  damages  repaired.  On  the  3d  of  September,  the  Bri- 
tish sloop  Sylph  of  S2,  the  Peruvian  of  18,  and  one  trans- 
port ana  .ten  bai^s,  ascended  the  river,  manned  in  all 
with  about  1000  men,  from  Castine,  under  command  of 
commodore-  Barrie,  with  a  determination  to  capture  the 
frigate.  Captain  Morris  erected  several  batteries  on  emi- 
nences near  his  vessel;  supplied  the  militia,  who  were 
widiottt  arms,  with  the  ship's  muskets,  and  made  every 
preparation  to  repulse  the  enemy.  Notwithstanding  these 
judicious  arrangements,  and  the  readiness  of  the  ship's 
crew  to  resist  the  enemy's  attempts,  the  militia  could  not 
be  brought  to  oppose  an  inferior  number  of  British  regu- 
lars; and  flying  precipitately  from  the  ground,  left  no 
other  alternative  to  captain  Morris,  than  to  surrender  his 
crew,  or  to  destroy  the  Adams,  and  retreat  to  Bangor,  or 
.Kennebeck.  Under  the  direction  •  of  lieutenant  Wads- 
worth,  of  the  ship,  the  sailors  and  marines  retired  in  good 
order,  over  a  bridge,  which  crossed  a  deep  creek;  but, 
captain  Moijis  ana  a  few  men,  who  remained  to  set  fire 


OF  THE  LATE  WAE. 


2dd 


e  west  of, 
eddy  bay; 
1  C,  SJier- 
ir  admiral 
that  pro- 
hese  com-^ 
st  of  See- 
the garri- 
he  British 
lien  issued 
^y  elaiitied 
►rovince  of 
nrere  more 
ants.    Af- 
were  gra- 
ed  for  the 
,    Castine, 
i\  the  con- 

ff orris  had 
Tiise,  a  few 
having  run 
to  be  hove 
er,  to^have 
jr,  the  Bri- 
one  ttuns- 
ned  in  all 
mmand  of 
capture  the 
ies  on  emi- 
who  were 
lade  every 
iding  these 
the  ship's 
I  could  not 
itish  TC^- 
id,  left  no 
Tender  his 
Baneor,  or 
int  Wads- 
ed  in  good 
reek;  but, 
to  set  fire 


to  the  vessel,  having  succeeded  in  blowing  her  up,  were 
cut  off  from  this  retveat,  and 'compelled  to  plunge  into 
the  river^  and  effect  their  escape  by  swimmiMN  Disap- 
pointed in  the  object  of  their  expedition,  the  British  re- 
turned to  Castine,  and  conducted  an  incursive  warfare 
against  the  to^s  in  the  vicinity  of  that  port 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Mivy-^United  StaUtf  gun  brig  ^rgus,  captured  by 
the^  sloop  of  war  Pelicanr-^The  Soxermid  the  Enter* 
priae'-^Uen  and  Burrow8--^Commodore  Rodgers  and 
the  PUmtoftenet^^The  Constitution  chased  into  Mar- 
blehead'^Vammodore  Leuris— 'Cruise  of  the  Essex  fri- 
gate-'-'Her  cavture-^United  Stated  sloop  of  war  tea- 
cock,  vanquishes  the  British  doopof  war  Epervier^'' 
Cruise  of  the  new  sloop  of  war  Jrasp'^Her  conquest 
over  the  Reindeer-^^he  sinks  the  Avon, 

.'"■■■  ■•  ^  •        ; 

I.  ■ 

The  government  of  the  United  States,  having  deem- 
ed it  expedient,  in  the  spring  of  1813,  to  send  an  ambas- 
sador to  France,  at  which  court  they  were  not  then  re- 
presented, the  American  gun  brig  Ai^s,  lieutenant  com- 
mandant Wm.  H.  Allen,  of  18  guns,  was  r  3spatched  to 
L'Orient,  with  Mr.  Crawford,  the  minister  plenipotentiar- 
ry,  appointed  to  negotiate  &  treaty  of  commerce  with  that 
power.  After  having  landed  the  minister,  she  was  ordered 
to  cruise  in  the  vicinitv  of  the  British  channel,  where  she 
arrived  about  the  midale  of  June,  and  continued  to  cruise 
until  the  same  time  in  August.  During  this  period,  she 
captured  in  St.  George's  channel,  upwaras  of  20  vessels, 
coasters  and  others,  and  excited  a  great 'degree  of  alarm 
among  the  towfis  upon  the  En^ish  coasts.  In  consequence 
of  her  activity  in  makiiie  captures,  and  the  danger  ^  Bri- . 
tish  vessels  of  parsing  mrough  the  channel,  the  insurance 
upon  coasters  could  no  longer  be  obtain^  in  England, 
but  at  an  amount  very  far  exceeding  the  double  premium ; 
and  though  numerous  vessels  of  war,  of  aJl  rates  and  de- 
scriptions, were  floating  at  the  docks,  the  Argus  was  al- 


236 


HISTOHICAI^  SKETCHES 


lowed  to  maintain  her  cruise  in  this  neighbourhood  fof 
two  full  months.  The  attention  of.  the  aamiralty  was  at 
length,  however,  awakened;  and,  hn  the  12th  of  August, 
the  sloop  of  war  Pelican,  captain  J.  F.  Maples,  of  21  car- 
riage guns,  was  ordered  to  cruise  in  search  of  the  hos- 
tile stranger.  On  the  14th,  at  4,  A.  M.  by  the  light  of.  a 
brie  then  on  fire,  the  two  vessels  were  brought  in  sight  of 
each  other.  The  Ai^s  immediately  close  hauled  on  the 
starboard  tack,  and  made  preparations  to  receive  the  ene- 
my. Failing  in  every  attempt  to  gun  the  weatheigage, 
captain  Allen,  at  half  past  5,  shortened  sail,  and  waited 
for  the  Pelican  to  close.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  the 
Pelican  displayed  her  colours;  the  Argus  hoisted  the 
Anierican  ffae,  wore  round,  and  within  grape  distance, 
gave  her  a  larooard  broadside;  which  being  returned,  the 
action  commenced  within  the  range  of  musketry.  At 
the  second  fire  from  the  Pelican,  captain  Allen  fell.  He 
was  wounded  severely  in  the  leg,  but  remained  on  deck 
until  several  broadsides  were  exchanged;  when,  being 
ouite  exhausted  by  the  excessive  loss  of  blood,  he  yielded 
W  command  of  the  Afgus  to  lieutenant  Watson,  and 
was  taken  below.  Meantime  the  Pelican  shot  away  the 
main  braces,  the  spring-stay,  gaff,  and  trysail  mast,  of 
the  Areus.  At  12  minutes  past  6,  her  spritsail  yiud^  and 
most  01  her  standing  rigging,  on  the  larboard  side  of  the 
foremast,  were  lost;  ana  lieutenant  Watson  received  a 
wound  in  the  head,  which  made  it  necessaiy  that  he  also 
should  be  c;\^ed  below.  The  command  of  the  Argus 
now  devolved  on  lieutenant  William  H.  Allen,  jun.  whose 
unremitted  exertions  frequently  defeated  the  ^nemy's  at- 
tempts to  get  into  a  raking  position.  At  16  minutes  past 
6,  the  Pelican  edged  off,  with  an  intention  of  setting  un- 
der the  stem  of  me  Aigus;  but  lieutenant  AUen,  by  luf- 
fing close  to,  with  his  main-topsail  tie  aback,  and  ^ving 
her  a  i;akin^  bhiadside,  completely  frustrated  this  a^ 
tempt  But,  in  two  minutes  alter,  sne  shot  away  the  pre- 
venter main  braces,  and  main-topsail  of  the  Argus,  de- 
prived her  of  tiie  use  of  her  after  sail,  and  thus  causing  her 
to  fall  off  before  the  wind,  succeeded  in  passing  her  stern, 
and  ranged  up  on  her  starboard  side.  At  25  minutes  past 
6,  the  Ajgus  haring  lost  her  wheel-ropes,  and  running  tig- 
ging of  every  description,  became  entirely  unmanageable; 
and  the  Pelican,  not  being  materially  damaged,  had  an 


■-<^ 


OF  THE  LAT£  WAB. 


237 


irhood  for 
Ity  was  at 
)f  August, 
of  21  car- 
f  the  hos- 
light  of.  a 
in  sight  of 
led  on  the 
e  the  ene- 
athergage, 
nd  waited 
-wards  the 
oisted  the 
\  distance, 
turned,  the 
Letry.  At 
a  fell.  He 
i  on  deck 
hen,  being 
he  yielded 
atson,  and 
t  away  the 
1  mast,  of 
i  yiupd,  and 
»de  of  the 
received  a 
at  he  also 
the  Argus 
jun.  whose 
nemy's  at- 
nutes  past 
etting  un- 
en,  b^  luf- 
Lnd  ^ving 
d  this  atr 
y  the  pre- 
\j^s,  de- 
ausing  her 
her  stern, 
[lutes  past 
nning  lig- 
inageable; 
d,  had  an 


opportunity  of  choosing  her  position.  She  continued  her 
fire  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  Argus,  un^l  half  p!»8t 
6;  when  lieutenant  Watson  returhed  to  the  deck,  and 
made  preparations  to  board  the  enemy.  The  shattered 
condition  of  the  brig  rendered  that  effort  impttsible ;  and 
the  Pelican  took  a  position  on  her  stem,  and  gave  her  a 
raking  fire  for  8  minutes,  when  she  passed  up,  and  plac- 
ing herself  on  the  starboard  bow,  continued  a  raking 
fire  there  until  47  minutes  past  6.  ^11  this  while,  the 
commander  of  the  Argus  was  endeavouring,  without  ef- 
fect, to  bring  her  guns  to  bear ;  and  having  nothinj^  but 
musketry  to  oppos  i  to  the  galling  ahd  effective  nre  of 
the  enemy,  he  determined  on  surrendering  the  brig.  A 
mtosure,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  several  of- 
ficers, and  many  of  the  men ;  of  the  shattered  state  of  the 
hull  and  rigging;  and  of  the  impossibility,  under  these 
disadvantages,  of  getting  otherwise  out  of  the  combat,  he 
wquld  have  bi^en  warranted  in  adopting  much  sooner. 
At  the  moment  her  flag  came  down,  the  Pelican  was 
pressing  jto  board  hei ,  and  being  close  along  side,  imme- 
diately took  possesblu  1.  Her  loss  amounted  to  6  killed, 
and  17  wounded ;  5  of  the  latter  died  soon  after  the  en- 
gagement The  loss  of  the  Pelican  was  3  men  killed,  and 
5  only  wounded. 

Captain  Allen  submitted  to  ah  amputation  of  his  leg; 
but  evety  means  of  restoration  to  his  health  proved  inef- 
fectual; and,  on  the  l^th,  3  days  after  the  action,  he  ex- 
B'red  in  Mill  Pnson  hospital,  whence  he  and  midshipmen 
elphy  (who  had  both  his  legs  shot  from  his  body  at  the 
same  instant},  and  Edwards,  were  buried  with  the  usual 
honours  of  war. 

Several  United  States'  sloops  of  war  were  about  this 

Eeriod,  upon  tiie  stocks;  and  it  being  necessary  tiiat  their 
uilding  and  equipment  should  be  superintended  by  jlkpe- 
rienced  naval  officers,  commanders  were  assigned  tol^m, 
previously  to  tiieir  being  launched  into  their  destined  ele- 
ment -  To  restore  to  the  American  naVal  list,  the  name 
of  a  vessel  which  had  been  captured  by  a  superior  force, 
after*  tiie  moment  of  vicWv  over  another  vessel,  one  of 
these  was  ordered  to  be  called  the  Wasp,  and  the  com- 
mand given  to  lieutenant  commandant  jBlakely,  at  that 
time  of  the  ^n  brig  the  Enterprise, 


^lipwpsnsfr- 


2^ 


[ISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


■I      ' 


By  this  transfer,  the  command  of  the  later  vess^  de- 
Tolved  on  lieutenant  commandant  Burrows,  to  whom  in- 
stntcticns  (lad  been  ^ven»  for  a  ci'uise  from  Portsmouth, 
On  the  Ist  of  September,  he  sailed  frotn  that*  pliu:e, 
steered  to  #ie  eastward,  and  on  the  3d,  discovered  anr' 
chased  a  schooner  into  Portland,  where  he  gained  iiitelli- 
gehce  of  several  privateers  b«ing  off  Manhagan,  and  im* 
medi^telr  stood  for  that  place;* 

The  British  gun  Jirig^  tne  Bcxer,  captain  Bly  the,  of  14 
ins,  and  nearly  100  men,  had  been  fitted  up  at  St  Johns,. 
Tew  Brunswick,)  for  the  purpose  of  a  combat  with  the 
ibkrprise,  mounting  the  same  number  of  guns,  and  very 
nearly  the  spme  number  of  '^nen.  To  the  crew  of  tlie 
Boxer,  however,  a  detachment  was  added  from  the  Rat- 
ler,  upon  her  arrival  on  the  United  States'  coast.  On 
the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  Enterprise,  in  the  bay  near 
Penguin  Pomt,  discovered  the  Boxer  getting  under  weigh, 
and  gahre  chase,  to  he/.  The  Boxer  fired  several  gu|is , 
stood  for  the.  Enterprise,  and  hoisted  four  ensigns.  Xlap- 
tain  BurrowSf  having  ascertaiiiod  her  ch}«.racter,  stood  out 
of  the  bay  to  d>tain  sea  room ;  and  followed  by  tlve 
Wij^t  he  hauled  upon  a  wind  until  3  P.  M.  At  that 
houir  he  shortened  sail,  and  in  20  minutes  the  action 
commenced,  within  h&lf  pistol  shot.  At  the  first  broad- 
side, capftain  Blythe  was  killed  by  a  cannon  shot  through 
his  body;  and  in  a  moment  afterwards,  captain  Burrows 
fell  by  a  musket  ball,  llie  command  of  we  two  vessels, 
during  the  whole  engagement,  was,  therefore,  mi^intained 
by  the  lieutenants.  Captain  Burrows  refused  to  quit  the 
deck,  and  at  4  P.  M.  received  the  sword  of  captain  Blythe, 
from  the  hands  of  lieutenant  M*Call ;  expressed  his  satis- 
faction at  the  manner  of  his  own  death,  and  expired  about 
8  hours  afterwards.  The  colours  of  the  Bcjcer  had  been 
naillMl  to  the  msst,  and  her  fii'st  officer  was,  therefore, 
obliged  to  hail  lieutenant  M<]!all,  to  inform  him  of  her 


,11  t 


lip 


•  The  Enterprik*!  is  the  same  vessel,  which,  in  1801,  was  a 
schooner,  in  the  Mediterranean,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Ster- 
rct.  Under  that  officer,  she  engaged  and  captured,  in  August 
of  that  year,  during  the  Tripolitan  war,  the  snip  of  war  Tripoli^ 
of  14  guT.,^  and  85  men.  In  this  engagement  she  lost  not  a  single 
man;  whilst  her  antagonist,  had  50  of  her  creW  kiUed  and 
wounded. 


1 1    \ 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


er  vessel  de- 
to  whom  in- 
Portsmouth. 
that*  place, 
covered  anr' 
lined  ihtelli^ 
^n,  and  im- 

llylhc,  of  14 

at  St.  Johns,. 

bat  with  the' 

m?,  and  very 

crew  of  the 

rom  the  Rat- 

'  coast.    On 

the  bay  near 

under  weigh, 

several  gujis, 

isigns.  Xlap- 

ker,  stood  out 

►wed  by  t!ie 

M.    Ai  that 

the  action 

first  broad* 

shot  through 

ain  Burrows 

two  vessels, 

i  muntained 

ta  (mit  the 

tain  Blythe, 

ed  his  satis- 

pired  about 

r  had  been 

,  therefore, 

him  of  her 

1801,  was  a 

itenant  Ster- 

in  August 

'  war  TripoUy 

not  a  single 

killed  and 


£39 


surrender,  before  it  was  Icnown  that  she  was  vsitqutrfied. 
She  was  immediately  taken  possession  of,  and  carried 
into  Portland,  with'  aer  masts,  sails,  and  spars^  cut  to 
pieces;  and,  with  twenty  18-pound  shot  in  her  hull.  The 
number  of  her  killed  and  wounded,  could  not  be  ascer- 
tained, no  papers  being  on  board,  by  which  ^  streng^th 
of  here.  3W  could  be  known.  Her  officei:8,  admitted  the 
loss  ef  ^  killed,  and  14  wounded.  The  rigging  of  the 
Enterprise  was  much  cut  with  grape  shot,  but  her  iiull 
not  materialljr  d)9.maged.  Her  loss  ^as  1  killed,  and  13 
wounded.  Dieutenant  Tillinghast,  and  midshipman  Wa* 
ters,  ^e  latter  of  whom  was  severely  wounded^  behaved 
with  coolness  and  determination;  and  lieutenant  MCall, 
who  succeeded  his  eallant  cf^tain,  sustained  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  navy,  by  nis;  conduct  throu^out  the  action. 

On  their  arrival  at  Portiand,  the  bodies  of  the  deceased 
commanders  w  re  deposited,  witii  the  u&ual  military  cere- 
monies; and  the  prisoners  were  soon  after  removed  to 
the  interior.  Both  vessels  were  repaired  withtite utftiost 
despatch ;  and  the  Boxer,  beine  ctmsidered  the  superior 
vessel,  was  order^  by  the  president  of  the  United  Statei^ 
to  be  delivered  u^.  for  the  bedkfit  of  the  ci^t(Mni,  and 
bought  fcom  them  into  the  service. 

nj  the  fall  of  these  young  (^cers,  captains  Allen  and 
Burrows,  the  naval  service  experienced  a  heavy  and  al- 
most irretrievable  loss.  Captain  Allen  had  distinguished 
himself  in  a  gallant  manner,  in  the  action  with  the  Mace- 
donian, at  which 'time  he  was  first  officer  to-  commodore 
Detatur;  and  hot  long  after,  received  the  approbation  of 
his  government,  by  a  promotion  to  the  rant  of  a  master 
commandant,  and  to  the  command  of  the  Argus.  He 
sustained  the  I'eputation  of  a  brave  and  courteous  man, 
an  accomplishea  seaman,  and  a  friend  of  ui^swerving  in- 
tegrity. Captain  Burrows,  whose  intrepidity  and  rarti- 
?  tade,  insti|«ited  him  to  remain  on  the  deck  of  his  vessel, 
^  in  the  agonies  of  death,  until' he  knew  of  the  surrender  of 
the  enemy,  possessed  these  inestimable  qualities  in  no 
less  a  desiree.  The  ioss  of  such  men,  will  be  a  fruitful 
source  of  sorrow,  to  those  who  have  been  their  compa- 
nions in  arms,  and  to  those  who  looked  up  to  them  for 
examples  of  usefulness  and  heroism. 

Between  this  period  and  the  commencement  of  the 
year  1814,  the  cruise  of  the  ships  of  war  of  the  United 


24Q 


HISTOltltiAI.  SKETCHES 


H 


Stftte%were  not  attended  by  any  of  those  bnlllant  acMeVe- 
mentd,  by  which  they  had  vpreviouslyv  and  iiave  sinte 
^at  ^me'  been  (jnarked.  In  the  mdnth  of  Februarjr,  of 
thatyear,  the  irigate  Pi;e»dent,  returned  from  a  cruise  of 
about  70  di^«.  At  the  entrance  of  Sandy  Hook,  after 
havinK^pasjMNlIhe  %hthou^ei.  commodore Riodgers,  fwnd 
himself  in  the  pigSioUrhpod' of  thre^  lai^  men  of  war, 
the  neareft  beings  the  P^tagenet  74,  captain  Lloyd»^— 
Behig  well  assured  of  ^n  attack,  £ram  one  oral)  of  the 
enemy's  veissds,  .hcT  cleared  ship  for  actibn ;  fuid,  thou^ 
his  capture  was  inevitable^  he  determined  n^t  to  lose  the 
President,  until  he  eould  no  longer  fight  her.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  wind  and  tide  bi^ii^  bow  unfayottrable,  he 
was  compelled  to  remain  in  his  situation  7  hours,  before 
either  of  th^m  enabled  him  to  cross  llie  bar;  and.  In  all 
that  tinp  to  has  great  astcnishtnent,  and  to  the  surprise 
and  mortification  of  the  prisonera-on  boards  no  disposition 
was  manifested  to  attack  the  PresHlent,  thoueh  her  charac- 
ter was  known;  and  she  foed  a  gun  to  windward,  to  sig- 
nify her  wmingness  to  fight,  since  there  was  no  apparent 
jpssibility  of  escaping.  The  lide  having  changed,  com- 
modore Kodgers  proce^ed  to  New  York;  i^nd  captmn 
Lloyd,  after  returning  to  England,  jeccounted  for  his  con- 
duct, by  ailing  a  mutiny  in  his  ship,  and  had  seVeral 
of  his  sailors  tried  upon  Aat  charge.  V^ 

In  the  succeeding'  month  of  April,  the  Constitntion 
frigkte,  commanded  nycaptfun  Charies  Stewart^  wks  also 
returning  from  a  cruise,  commenced  oh  the  1st  January. 
On  her  arrival  on.  the  coast,  she  was  pursued  by  two  Brit- 
ish frigates  and  a  brig^  and  chased  into  Marblenead.  The 
excellent  seamai|iship  of  her  commander,  enabled  her,  with 
difficult  to  esc£^e;  and  she  reached  Salem,  without  in- 
jury. During  her  cruito  wshe  captured  the  British  public 
schooner  JPic^ottiL  and  fell  in  witii  the  frigate  Xet  Pi^, 
captain  Mikitland,  who  fled  cm  the  approadi  of  t^e  Consti- 
tution. No  effort'was  left  tmtried  by  captain  Stewart,  to 
overtake  and  bring  her  to  action^  but  she  escaped  in  the 
hight  after  a  lone  chase;  and  captain  Maitland»  on  his 
m-rival  in  England,  was  complimented  by  the  admmtl  ty, 
for  his  strict  observance  of  hts  instructions,  in  flying  from 
an  American  frigate.  r    /• 

Repeated  opportunities  were,-  about  this  time^  §^ven  to 
the  enemy's  squadron  off  Sandy  Hook,  to  engage  the  gun 


Of  THE  I^TB  WAK. 


£41 


boat  flotilla.  A  schooner  had  been  driven  on  fihore;  and 
numbers  of  barges,  well  manned  and  armed,  were  des- 
patched to  t^e  possession  of  her;  but  commodore 
Lewis,  ordered  a  detachment  of  his  sailors  to  land  and 
protect  her.  With  a  small  field  piece,  and  their  small 
arms,  they  beat  off  the  enemj,  launched  the  schooner, 
and  carried  her  to  her  destined  port.  New  York.  A 
month  afterwards,  the  Belvidere  chased  the  brig  IjLegent, 
laden  with  an  immensely  valuable  cargo  close  into  the 
Hook;  when  the  commodore,  whose  station  was  con- 
stantly at  that  point,  immediately  gave  signal  for  a  de- 
tachment of  his  flotilla  to  follow  liim;  and  placing  him- 
self, with  11  sail,  between  the  frigate  and  the  chase, 
prevented  her  capture;  and  fired  upwards  of  50  shot  at 
the  frigate,  which  stood  off  without  returning  the  fire. 

In  a  preceding  chapter  of  this  work  an  account  is 
given  of  a  plan  of  a  cruise  in  the  South  Seas  by  a  squad- 
ron composed  of  the  Constitution,  the  Essex,  and  the 
Hornet,  under  commodore  Bainbridge.  This  cruise  was 
broken  up  ^y  the  engagements  of  me  Constitution  and 
the  Hornet;  and,  as  neither  of  those  vessels  were  found 
by  the  Essex,  at  either  of  the  appointed  rendezvous,  cap- 
tain Porter  obtained  such  adaitional  provisions  as  were 
necessary  for  a  long  cruise.  He  had  received  intelli- 
gence ot  the  victory  over  the  Java,  and  had  been  in- 
formed that  the  Montague  had  captured  the  Hornet.  He 
therefore  determined  on  prosecuting  the  original  cruise, 
with  the  Essex  alone.  Previously  to  his  departure  from 
the  rendezvous  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  he  captured  the 
British  packet  Nocton,  took  out  of  her  n,000t.  sterling, 
in  specie,  and  ordered  her,  with  lieutenant  Finch,  to  the 
United  States.  He  then  shaped  his  course  for  the  Pacific, 
arrived  at  Valparaiso,  on  the  14^  March,  1813,  provi- 
sioned himself  there,  and  running  down  the  coast  oi  Chili 
and  Peru,  fell  in  with  a  Peruvian  corsair,  on  board  of 
which  were  24  Americans,  detained  as  prisoners.  Cap- 
tain Porter  immediately  threw  the  guns  of  the  corsair 
overboard,  deprived  her  of  all  her  warlike  implements, 
released  the  Americans,  and  re-captured  near  Lima,  one 
of  the  vessels  in  which  they  had  been  taken.  From 
Lima  he  proceeded  to  the  (xallapagos  glands,  where  he 
cruised  from  April  until  October;  and,  in  that  time,  cap- 
tured 12  armed  British  whale  ships.    Tho^  Montezuma, 


ti 


!.'■     t 


ii; 


I  i 
i 

t 


IH 


U'2 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


of  S  guns  and  SI  men;  the  Policy,  of  10  guns  and  2.6 
men;  the  Georgiana,  of  6  guns  and  25  men;  the  Green- 
tmch,  of  10 guns  and  25  men;  the  JtlantiCt  of  8 guns  and 
24  mien;  the  Bose,  of  8  guns  and  21  men;  the  Hector,  of 
11  guns  and  25  men;  tne  Catherine,  of  8  guns  and  29 
men;  the  Seringapatam,  of  14  guns  and  31  men;  the 
Charlton,  of  10  guns  and  21  men;  the  J^Tew  Zealander, 
of  8  guns  and  23  men;  and  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond, 
of  12  guns  and  31  men;  making,  in  all,  107  guns  and 
302  men:  and  th6  total  amount  of  tonnage,  3456.  Ma- 
ny of  these  vessels  were  pierced  for  18,  20,  and  26 
guns,  and  captain  Porter  equipped  several  of  them, 
and  commissioned  them  as  United  States'  cruisers  and 
store  ships.  The  Mlantic,  he  called  the  Essex  Junior ; 
equippect  her  with  20  guns,  and  assigned  his  first  officer, 
lieutenant  Downes,  as  her  commander.  This  officer 
convej^d  such  of  the  prizes,  as  were  to  be  laid  up,  to 
Valparaiso.  Here  he  learned  that  a  Biitish  squadron, 
consisting  of  one  frigate,  two  sloops  of  war,  and  a  store 
ship  of  20  guns,  had  sailed  for  the  Pacific,  in  quest  of  the 
Essex,  and  he  immediatelv  returned  to  captain  Porter 
with  this  intelligence.  The  Essex  had  now  been  one 
year  at  sea,  and  as  she  required  many  repairs,  captain 
Porter  proceeded  to  the  island  of  Nooaheevah,  or  Madi- 
son's Uland,  lying  in  the  Washington  ^oup;  where  he 
completely  repaired  the  Essex;  and  having  secured  three 
of  his  prizes  under  the  guns  of  the  battery  which  he  had 

ftreviously  erected^and  manned  with  21  marines,  under 
ieutenant  Gamble  of  that  corps,  sailed  for  the  coast  of 
Chili,  on  the  12th  December,  and  arrived  there  on  the 
12th  January,  1814.  He  then  looked  into  Conception 
and  Valparaiso,  where  he  learned,  that  the  squadron  of 
which  he  had  been  informed  by  lieutenant  Downes,  was 
conjectured  to  have  been  lost  in  doubling  Cape  Horn. 
He  nevertheless,  continued  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Val- 

Jaraiso,  and  was  anchored  in  that  port,  with  the  Essex 
unior,  when  commodore  Hillyar,  of  the  frigate  Phcebe, 
of  36  guns,  mounting  (thirty  long  18's,  sixteen  32-pound 
carronadies,  and  one  howitzer/ on  her  decks,  and  six  3- 
pounders  in  her  tops,)  53  suns,  and  having  a  complement 
of  320  men;  accompanied  by  the  Cherub  sloop  of  war, 
capt^ain  Tucker,  of  (eighteen  32-pound  carronades,  eight 
@4's,  and  2  long  9*3)  28  guns,  and  130  men,  arrived  at 


OF  THti  LATE  WAB. 


243 


una  and  26 
the  Green' 
f  8  gans  and 
le  Hector,  of 
guns  and  S9 
il  fnen;  the 
;  Zealandevy 
u  Hammond, 
)7  guns  and 
3456.    Ma- 
2.0,  and  26 
al   of  them, 
cruisers  and 
Issex  Junior; 
i  first  officer, 
This  officer 
le  laid  up,  to 
sh  squadron, 
',  ana  a  store 
quest  of  the 
ptain  Porter 
m  been  one 
airs,  captain 
'ah,  or  Madi- 
p;  where  he 
iecured  three 
trhich  he  had 
rines,  under 
•  the  coast  of 
there  on  the 
Conception 
squadron  of 
)ownes,  was 
Cape  Horn, 
•hood  of  Val- 
th  the  Essex 
gate  Pheebe, 
!en  32-pound 
),  and  six  3- 
complement 
oop  of  war, 
onades,  eight 
1,  arrived  at 


Valparaiso.  The  Essex,  which  mounted  (forty  32-potind 
carronades,  and  six  long  12*s,)  46  guns,  and  had  her  crew 
reduced,  by  prizes,  to  255  men ;  and,  the  Essex  Junior, 
which  was  not  competent  to  resist  a  sloop  of  war,  mount- 
ing 20  guns,  and  naving  on  board  6(X  men,  were  thus 
blockaded  by  a  force  of  81  guns  and  500  men. 

After  cruising  at  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  for  6 
weeks,  the  Phoebe  hove  to,  fired  a  gun  to  windward,  and 
hoisted  a^ motto  flag,  with  the  words,  ''God  and  our  Coun- 
try; British  Sailors'  best  rights;  Traitors  offend  both;** 
in  answer,  as  it  was  thought,  to  captain  Porter's  motto 
of  "Free  Trade  and  Sailors*  Rights.**  On  the  mizen  of 
the  Essex,  a  flag  was  immediately  hoisted,  with  the  words, 
"God,  our  Country,  and  Liberty;  Tyrants  offend  them,*' 
and  she  got  under  weigh,  and  commenced  a  fire  on  the 
Pheebe.  Captain  Porter  conceived  the  movements  of  the 
Phoebe  to  be  intended  as  a  challenge  to  engage  him,  ship 
to  ship;  but,  on  discovering  that  the  Phoeb«  ran  down  to 
her  consort,  he  felt  convinced  that  commodore  Hillyar 
would  not  engage  the  Essex  alone.  This  conclusion  was 
confirmed  by  the  conduct  of  the  two  vessels,  in  keeping 
constantly  within  hail  of  each  other, 
i  Captain  Porter,  having  now  learned  that  the  Tagus  and 
2  other  frigates,  had  also  sailed  for  the  Pacific,  in  pursuit 
of  him;  not  knowing  at  what  time  they  might  gain  the 
squadron  already  blockading  him,  and  seeing  no  advan- 
tages which  hisxountry  could  obtain  by  his  remaining 
longer  in  port,  determined  on  put^ng  to  sea;  and  ex- 
pected, by  drawing  off  the  Phoebe  and  Cherub  in  pdrsuit 
of  him,  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  Essex  Junior,  to 
which  he  had  appointed  a  rendezvous,  of  escaping. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  the  day  after  this  determination 
was  formed,  the  wind  came  on  to  blow  fresh  from  the 
southward,  and  the  Essex  parted  her  larboard  cable,  and 
dragged  her  starboard  anchor  directly  out  to  sea ;  ^e  oc- 
currences which  followed,  are  thus  described  in  captain 
Porter*s  official  letter  :* 

*  This  letter,  together  with  an  account  of  the  entire  ciuise 
of  the  EHsex-— of  the  possession  of  the  island  of  Nooaheevah,  by 
capttun  Porter,  in  the  name  of  the  United  Statea— of  the  inter- 
course established  with  the  natives  in  behalf  of  his  government 
— of  the  destniction  of  the  enemy's  commerce  in  those  seaa^— 
of  the   immense   expense    which  it   cost  the  British  govern- 


V 


244 


HISTORICAX  SKETCHES 


<( 
it 
ft 
t* 
*f 
it 
« 
« 

«( 

« 
« 

tt 
u 
it 

ft 
ft 
■** 
ts 
tt 
it 
tt 
It 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
ti 
tt 
tt 
ft 


"  Not  a  moment  was  to  be  lost,  in  getting  sail  on  the 
ship.  The  enemy  were  close  in  with  the  point  form- 
ing the  west  side  of  the  bay;  but,  on  opening  them,  I 
saw  a  prospect  of  passing  to  windward,  when  I  took  in 
my  topgallant-sails,  which  were  set  over  single  reefed 
top-sails,  and  braced  up  for  this  purpose;  but,  on 
rounding  the  point,  a  heavy  squall  struck  the  ship,  and 
carried  away  her  main-topmast,  precipitating  the  men 
who  were  aloft,  into  the  sea,  who  were  drowned.  Both 
ships  now  save  chase  to  me ;  and,  I  endeavoured,  in 
my  disabled  state,  to  regain  the  port ;  but,  finding  I 
could  not  recover  the  common  anchorage,  I  ran  close 
into  a  small  bay,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to  lee- 
ward of  the  battery,  on  the  east  side  of  the  harbour, 
and  let  go  mv  anchor  within  pistol  shot  of  the  shore, 
wherie  I  intended  to  repair  mv  damages,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 'The  'enemy  continuea  to  approach,  and  showed 
an  evident  intention  of  attacking  us,  regardless  of  the 
neutrality  of  the  place  where  I  was  anchored.  The 
caution  observed  in  their  approach  to  the  attack  of  the 
crippled  Essex,  was  truly  ridiculous;  as  was  their  dis- 
play of  their  motto  flags,  and  the  number  of  jacks  at 
the  mast  heads.  I,  with  as  much  expedition  as  circum- 
stances would  admit  of,  got  my  ship  ready  for  action, 
and  endeavoured  to  get  a  spring  on  my  cable,  but  had 
not  succeeded,  when  the  enemy,  at  54  minutes  after  3 
P.  M.  made  his  attack;  the  Pheebe  placing  herself  un- 
der my  stern,  and  the  Cherub  on  my  starboard  bow ; 
but)  the  Cherub  soon  finding  her  situation -a  hot  one, 
bore  up  and  ran  under  my  stern  also,  where  both  ships 
kept  Up  a,  hot  raking  fire.  I  had  got  three  long  IS  poun- 
ders out  at  the  stern  ports,  which  were  worked  with  so 
much  bravery  and  skill,  that  in  half  an  hour,  we  so  dis- 
abled both,  as  to  compel  them  to  haul  off  to  repair  da- 
mages. In  the  course  of  this  firing,  I  had,  by  the  sreat 
exertions  of  Mr.  Edwarti  Barnwell,  the  acting  sailing 


ment  to  pursue  and  capture  the  Essex-^and,  of  the  transactions 
which  took  place,  between  the  different  tribes  of  natives  in  the 
Washington  g^up,  and  the  fleet  with  which  he  appeared  there, 
are  to  be  found  in  a  "  Journal,"  published  by  captain  Porter,  and 
accompanied  by  several  engp^aved  plans  of  those  places,  of  the 
harbour  of  Valparaiso,  and  a  view  of  the  battle  between  the 
Phoebe  And  Cherub,  and  the  Essex. 


OF  THR  X.ATS  yfAn*, 


^5 


^  ma»ier*  assisted  by  Mr.  Xiinscott,  the  boatswaiD^-  puc- 
"  C9^ed  'm  getting  spring  on  our  cables,  thr^e  di&rent 
<<  times;  but,  tlie  fire  of  the  eBemj  was, so  excessive, 
"  that,  before  we  coiild  set  our  broadside  to  bear,  they 
**  were  shot  away,  and  thus  rendered  useless  to  us.  lify 
**  ship  had  received  many  injuries,  and  several  had  been 
*'  killed  and  wounded ;  but,  my  brave  officers  and  men, 
'*  netwiths^ding  the  unfavourable  circumstances  under 
"  which  we  were  brought  to  action,  and  the  powerful 
**  force  opposed  to  us,, were  noways  discouraged;  all  ap- 
"  peered  aetermined  to  defend  their  ship  to  the  last  ex- 
"  tremity,  and  to  dio  in  preference  to  a  shi^meful  sur- 
**  render.  Our  gaff,  with  the  ensign  and  motto  flag  at 
"  the  mizen,  haa  been  shot  away;  but,  free  tradp  and 
*'  sAiLOBs'  fuoHT8»  Continued  to  fly  at  the  fore.  Our  en- 
"  sign  was  replaced  by  another,  and  to  guard  against  a 
"  similar  event,  an  ensign  v«ras  made  fast  in  the  mizen  rig- 
^<ging,  and  several  jacks  were  hoisted  in  different  parts 
*'  of  me  sldp.  The  enemy  soon  repaired  his  damages^ 
"for  a  fresh  attack:  h^  now  placed  himself,  with  both 
**  his  ships,  on  my  starboard  quarter,  out  of  the  reach  of 
"  my  carronades,  and  where  my  stern  guns  could  not  be 
"  broudit  tx>  bear;  he  there  kept  up  a  most  galling  fire, 
"  whi(£  it  was  out  of  my  power  to  return,  when  1  saw 
'*  no  prospect  of  injuring  him,  withoiit. getting  under 
''weigh  and  becoming  the  assailant  My  topsml  sheets 
"  and  haulyards  were  all  shot  away,  as  well  as  the  jib  and 
*'  foretopmast  staysaU  haulyards.  The  only  rope  not  cut 
^  was  the  fiying«jib  haulyards,  and  that  being  the  only 
"  sihI  I  could  se^  I  caused  it  to  be  hoisted,  my  cable  to 
**  be  cut,  and  ran  down  on  both  ships,  with  an  intention 
"  of  laying  the  Phoebe  on  board.  The  firing  on  both  s^des 
*'  was  now  tremendous.  I  had  let  fall  my  foretopsail  and 
"  foresail;  but  the  want  of  tacks  and  sheets  had  rend^ed 
"  them  almost  useless  to  us ;  yet,  we  were  enabled,  i^v 
"  a  short  time,  to  close  with  the  enemy ;  and,  although 
*'  our  dedks  were  now  strewed  with  dead,  and  our  cocK- 
"  pit  filled  with  wounded;  although  our  shijp  had  been  se- 
"  veral  times  on  fire,  and  was  rendered  a  perfect  wreck, 
**  we  were  still  encouraged  to  hope  to  save  iher,  from  the 
**  circumstances  of  the  Cherub,  worn  her  crippled  state, 
"  being  compelled  to  haul  off.  £ihe  did  not  return  to  close 
"  action  again,  although  she  apparently  had  it  in  kffF 

X2 


4: 


d46 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


'*  power  to  do  so*  but  kept  up  a  distant  firing  with  her 
'Monffguns.  The  Phcebe,  from  our  disabled  state,  was 
**  ensSled,  however,  bj  ed^ng  off,  to  choose  the  distance 
"  which  best  suited  her  long  guns,  &nd  kept  up  a  tremen- 
"  dbus  fire  on  us,  which  mowed  down  my  brave  compa- 
"  nions  by  the  dozen.  Many  of  my  guns  had  been  ren- 
**  dered  useless  by  the  enetany's  shot,  and  many  of  them 
*'had  their  whole  crews  destroyed.  We  manned  them 
"  again,  from  those  which  were  aisabled,  and  one  gun  in 
**  particular  was  three  times  manned;  15  men  were  slain 
**  at  it  in  the  course  of  the  action!  But  strange  as  it.may 
"  appear,  the  captain  of  it  escaped  with  only  a  slight 
"  wound.  Finding  that  the  enemy  had  it  in  his  power  to 
"  choose  his  distance,  I  now  gave  up  all  hopes  of  closing 
**  with  him;  and,  as  the  wind,  for  tne  moment,  seemed  to 
**  favour  the  design,  I  determined  to  endeavour  to  run 
"her  on-shore,  land  my  men,  and  destroy  her.  Every 
"  thins  seemed  to  favour  my  wishes.  We  nad  approach- 
**  ed  the  shore  within  musket  shot,  and  I  had  no  dfoubt  of 
"  succeeding,  when,  in  an  instant,  the  wind  shifted  from 
"  the  land,  (as  is  verv  common  in  this  port  in  tihie  latter 
**  part  of  Ihe  day)  ana  payed  our  head  down  on  the  Phtsbe, 
'*  where  we  were  again  exposed  to  a  dreadful  raking  fire. 
'*My  ship  was  now  totally  unmanageable;  yet,  as  her 
"  head  was  toward  the  enemy;  and  he  to  leeward  of  i^e, 
*'  I  still  hoped  to  be  able  to  board  him;  At  this  moment, 
"  lieutenant  commandant  Dowhes  came  on  board  to  re- 
*'  ceive  my  orders,  under  the  impression  that  I  should 
"  soon  be  a  prisoner.  He  could  be  of  no  use  to  me,  in 
"the  then  wretched  state  of  tlie  Essex;  and,  finding 
*'  (from  the  enemy  putting  his  helm  up)  Ihat  my  last  at- 
"  tempt  at  boardmg  would  not  succeed,  I  directed  him 
"  after  he  had  been  about  ten  minutes  on  board,  to  return 
**  to  his  own  ship,  to  be  prepared  for  defending  and  de- 
"  stroying  her,  in  case  of  attack.  He  took  with  nim  seve- 
"  ral  of  my  wounded,  leaving  three  of  his  boat's  crew  on 
*' beard,  to  make  room  for  them.  The  slaughter  on 
bouti  my  ship  had  now  become  horrible,  the  enemy 
continuing  to  rake  us,  and  we  unable  to  bring  a  gun  to 
"  bear.  I  merefore  directed  a  hawser  to  be  bent  to  the 
'*  sheet  anchor,  and  the  anchor  to  be  cut  from  the  bows 
"to  bring  her  head  round:  this  succeeded.  We  again 
''got  our  broadside  to  bear;  and,  as  the  enemy  wa« 


tt 


u 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


247  ^* 


with  her 
state,  was 
i  distance 
a  tremen- 
kve  compa- 
been  ren- 
ly  of  them 
ined  them 
»ne  gun  itt 
were  slain 
;  as  it.may 
[y  a  slight 
is  power  to 
of  closing 
,  seemed  to 
our  to  run 
ler.    Every 
i  approach- 
nd  doubt  of 
bifted  from 
n  the  latter 
the  Phoebe, 
raking  fire, 
yet,  as  her 
vard  of  i^fie, 
lis  moment, 
oard  to  re- 
it  I  should 
>e  to  me,  in 
,nd,  finding 
my  last  at- 
irected  him 
d,  to  return 
ine  and  de- 
h  nim  seve- 
it's  crew  on 
Biughter  on 

the  enemy 
ig  a  gun  to 
[)ent  to  the 
Q  the  bows 

We  again 
enemy  wa« 


<( 


« 


« 


(( 


« 


(( 


«( 


"  much  crippled,  and  unable  to  hold  his  own,  I  have  no 
*'  doubt  he  would  soon  have  drifted  out  of  gun  shot,  be- 
**  fore  he  discovered  we  had  anchored,  had  not  the  haw- 
*'  ser  unfortunately  parted.  My  ship  had  taken  fire  seve- 
"  ral  times  during  the  action,  but  alarmingly  sa  forward 
and  aft  at  this  moment,  the  &ames  were  bursting  up 
each  4iatchway,  and  no  hopes  were  entertained  of  sav- 
ing her;  our  distance  from  the  shore  did  not  exceed 
three  quarters  of  a  mile,  and  I  hoped  many  of  my  brave 
crew  would  be  able  to  save  themselves,  sliould  tne  ship 
blow  up,  as  I  was  inform<^  the  fire  was  near  the  masa- 
zine,  and  the  explosion  of  a  lai^  quantity  of  powder 
**  below,  served  to  increase  the  horrors  of  our  situation. 
**  Our  boats  were  destroyed^  by  the  enemy's  shot;  I,  there- 
**  fore  directed  tiiose  who  could  swim,  to  jump  overboard, 
'*and  endeavour  to  gain  the  shore.  So)ne  reached  it, 
**  some  were  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  some  perished  in 
"the  attempt;  but  most,  preferred  sharing  with  me  the 
"  fate  of  the  ship.  We,  who  remained,  now  turned  our 
*'  attention  wholly  to  extinguish  the  flunes ;  and,  when 
"  we  had  succeeded,  went  again  to  our  guns,  where  the 
*'  firine  W98  kept  up  for  some  minuted;  but  the  crew  had 
'*by  mis  time,  become  so  weakened,  that  they  all  de- 
^  clared  to  me  the  impossibility  of  making  further  resist- 
"  ance,  and  entreated  me  to  surrender  my  ship,  to  savfe 
**  the  wounded,  as  all  fiirther  attempt  at  opposition,  must 
"  prove  iheflfectual,  almost  every  gun  being  disabled,  by 
"  the  destruction  of  their  crews." 

Captain  Porter  then  summoned  his  officers  of  divisions 
to  a  consultation,  but,  to  his  surpiise,  his  summons  was 
attended  by  only  one  remaining  officer,  acting  lieutenant 
M'Knight,  who  made  the  same  report  concerning  the 
condition  of  the  guns.  Lieutenant  Wilmer  had  been 
knocked  overboard  by  a  splinter,  and. was  drowned;  act- 
ing lieutenant  Cowell  had  lost  a  leg,  of  which  loss  he  af- 
terwards died;  Mr.  Barnwell,  the  acting  master,  had 
been  twice  severely  wounded ;  <he  acting  lieutenant  Oden- 
heimer,  had  been  knocked  overboard  about  the  same 
time,  and  did  not  regain  the  ship  until  she  had  surren- 
dered; many  of  the  wounded  were  killed,  while  in  the 
hands  of  the  sui^eons;  the  cockpit,  the  steerage,  the 
ward-room, and  the  birtii-deck, could  contain  no  more; 
and,  such  was  the  quantity  of  shot  hdies  in  the  bottom  of 


£48 


HI8T0KIC4l<  SKI&TCHES 


f 


I 


'M 


the  Bssex,  that,  unless  she  was  very  soon  repaired,  th« 
carpenter  reported  she  must  inevitabhr  sink.  T1\^  smooth- 
ness of  the  water,  and  the  impossibility  of  reaching;  the 
enemy,  with  the  carronades,  enabled  him  to  fire  wim  the 
most  deliberate  aim  at  the  Essex,  and,  seeing  no  hope  of 
savins  his  little  frigate,  captain  Porter,  at  twenty  minutes 
past  o  P.  M.  gave  orders  to  strike  the  colours.  At  this 
moment,  75  men  only,  including  officers,  were  all  that 
remained  of  the  crew>  fit  for  duty,  and  several  of  these 
severely  wounded.  The  Essex  had  now  yielded  to  the 
superior  force  of  the  enemy,  who,  nevertheless,  still  fired, 
and  continued  to  .do  so,  ten  minutes  after  her  surrender. 
Many  of  the  crew  were,  in  this  time,  killed:  an  opposite 
,gun  nad  been  fired,  to  show  that  she  intended  no  further 
resistance,  vet  commodore  Hillyar  still  assailed  her,  and 
four  men  rell  at  the  side  of  her  commander.  Conceiv- 
ing from  tiiis  conduct,  that  the  enemy  intended  to  show 
no  quartet,  captain  Porter  determined  to  die  with  s 
flag  flying,  and  wad  on  the  point  of  re-hoisting  it,  when 
the  firinff  ceased.  ^  ^ 

In  addition  to  the  officers  already  mentioned,  captain 
Porter  speaks  of  Messrs.  Johnson,  and  Bostwick,  actins^ 
officers;  of  midshipmen  Isaacs,  Farragut,  and  Ogden,  ana 
acting  midshipmen,  Terry,  Lyman,  and  Duzenbury,  hav- 
ing behaved  witii  much  bravery,  enterprise  and  skill. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  both  the  Phcebe  and  the  Es- 
sex, that  it  was  with  extreme  difficulty  they  could  be  kept 
afloat  until  tiiev  anchored  in  Valparaiso.  All  the  masts 
and  yards  of  tne  two  British  vessels  were  crippled,  and 
^&r  hulls  cut  up.  The  Phoebe  had  eighteen  12  pound 
shot  below  her  water  line,  though  the  Essex  never  reach- 
ed the  enemy^  but  with  her  ux  12  pounders.  All  Uie  ves- 
sels were  obli»Nl  to  be  repaired,  to  double  Cape  Horn, 
and,  at  Bio  de  Janeiro,  they  put  in,  to  fit  up  and  repair,  to 
enable  them  to  reach  England. 

In  an  engagem^it  of  2  hours  and  SO  minutes  dura- 
tion, between  one  ship  of  46  guns,  six  only  of  which  could 
.*be  used,  and  two  vessels  of  81  guns,  the  Loss  on  the  infe- 
rior side  must  necessarily  have  been  excessively  severe. 
On  board  the  Essex,  58  men  were  killed:  39  severely, 
and  26  slightly,  wounded;  and  31  missings  making  a 
total  loss  of  154.  On  board  the  Phcebe  and  Cherub,  the 
I99S  was  not  small.    The  first  lieutenant  of  the  former 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


949 


was  killed,  and  captain  Tucker,  of  the  latter,  severely 
wounded. 

Commodore  Hillyar  made  arrangements  with  captain 
Porter,  in  consideration  of  his  conduct  to  the  crew  of  the 
Alert;  by  which,  the  Essex  Junior  was  to  be  dismantled 
of  her  armament,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  who  were 
to  proceed  in  her  to  the  United  States.  AccOrdinelv,  on 
the  27th  of  April,  captain  Porter  and  his  crew  left  Valpa- 
raiso in  that  ship,  wnich,  under  lieutenant  Downes,  was 
furnished  with  a  passport,  to  secure  her  admission  into 
any  of  the  blockaded  ports  of  the  United  States.  On  the 
5th  July,  thev  fell  in  with  the  Saturn  razee,  captain  Mash, 
who  Buflferea  the  Essex  Junior  to  proceed,  after  an  exar 
mination  of  her  papers.  Two  hours  after,  being  on  the 
same  tack  with  the  Saturn,  she  was  again  brought  to; 
the  papers  re-examined,  and  the  hold  overhauled,  oy  the 
boat's  crew  and  an  officer.  Captain  Porter  was  informed 
that  commodore  Hillyar  had  no  authority  to  make  any 
arrangement,  by  which  this  ship  should  be  given  up,  and 
that  sne  must  therefore  be  detained.  He  immediately 
ordered  out  a  boat,  manned  it  with  a  sufficient  crew,  and 
pulled  off  from  the  Essex  Junior.  The  Saturn  did  not 
discover  him,  until  he  was  out  of  gun  shot,  when  she 
chased  the  boat,  without  success;  and  captain  Porter 
landed  at  Long  Island,  upwards  of  30  miles  from  the 
place;  at  which  he  left  the  Essex,  and  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  New  York,  where  he  arrived,  after  an  absence 
from  his  country  of  19  months,  and  to  which  portlie  was 
followed,  a  few  days  after,  by  the  Essex  Junior. 

The  United  States*  sloop  of  war  Peacock,  captain  L. 
Warrington,  of  20  guns,  and  160  men,  was  launched  in 
the  month  of  October,  1813 — ^performed  a  cruise  during 
that  winter — escaped  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  into  St. 
Marjr's — put  to  sea  ftsain,  and  on  the  29th  of  April,  dis- 
covered tne  British  sloop  of  war  Epervier,  captain  Wales, 
of  18  guns,  and  128  men,  having  under  convoy  a:n  English 
bris,  and  a  Russian  and  a  Spanish  ship,  all  of  whom  made 
sail,  on  the  approach  of  the  PeacocK.  An  engagement 
followed,  soon  after,  between  the  two  vessels  of  war;  ^nd, 
at  the  first  broadside,  from  the  Epervier,  the  foreyard  pf 
the  Peacock  was  totally  disabled,  by  two  round  shot  in 
the  starboard  quarter.  By  this  circumstance,  she  was 
deprived  pf  the  use  of  her  fore  and  fore  top  sails,  and 


■I 


tm 


1 

''  ■■  ^ 

n 

,»\'i 

K 

.  >" 

1 

o'^ 

,  I? 
lii 

1 1   Hi 


250 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


captain  Warrington  was  compelled  to  keep  his  ship  lar^e 
througjhout  the  action,  which  continued  42  minutes.  In 
this  time,  she  received  many  shot  through  her  sails  and 
rignng,  lost  several  top-mast  and  top  gallant  back-stays, 
aiKl  had  2  men  wounded.  Her  hull  not  at  all  injured,  and 
none  of  the  crew  killed.  The  Epervier  struck,  with  5 
feet  water  in  her  hold,  her  main  top-mast  oyer  the  side  ; 
her  main  boom  shot  away,  her  fore  mast  cut  nearly  in 
two,  and  totterine;  her  fore  ri^ng  and  stays  shot  away, 
her  bowsprit  much  injured;  her  hull  pierced  by  45  shot, 
20  of  which  were  within  a  foot  of  her  water  line,  and  11 
of  her  crew  killed,  and  her  first  lieutenant,  and  14  men 
wounded.  She  was  immediately  taken  possession  of  by 
lieutenant  Nicholson,  first  ofiicer  of  the  Peacock,  who, 
vfiih  lieutenant  Voorhees,  of  the  same  ship,  had  been  dis- 
tingu^hed  in  another  naval  combat  S  118,000  in  specie, 
were  found  on  board  the  Epervier,  and  transferred  to  the 
Peacock;  and  captain  Warrington,  having  received  on 
board  the  officers  of  the  enemy's  vessel,  pursued  his 
course  to  one  of  the  southern  ports,  in  company  with  his 
prize,  after  repairing  her  with  the  utmost  diligence. 

At  half  past  5  P.  M.  on  the  following  day,  being  almost 
off  the  centre  of  Amelia  Island,  captain  Warrington  dis- 
covered two  lai^e  sail  in  chase,  which  he  ascertained  to 
be  frieates.  At  the  suggestion  of  lieutenant  Nicholson, 
he  took  all  the  prisoners  out  of  the  Epervier,  and  leaving 
a  crew  of  only  15  men  on  board,  directed  her  to  make  the 
best  of  4ier  way  to  St.  Mary's,  whilst  he  stood  on  the  wind 
alons  shore,  to  the  southward.  The  frigates  then  sepa- 
rated, one  being  in  chase  of  the  Peacock,  and  the  other  of 
the  Epervier.  At  9  that  nisht,  the  Peacock  lost  sight  of 
the  chaser,  but  continued  all  night  to  the  southward.  At 
daylight  of  the  first  of  May,  she  shortened  sail,  and  stood 
to  the  northward,  discovered  the  frigate  asain,  and  was  a 
second  time  chased,  until  2  P.  M.  when  the  frigate  gave 
up.  In  the  evening,  she  resumed  her  cruise,  fell  in  with 
the  frigate  a  third  time,  on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  and  was 
again  chased  until  she  lost  sight.  On  the  morning  of  the 
4th,  she  made  Tybee  light  house,  at  the  entrance  of  Sa- 
vannah, and  arrived  at  that  port  in  the  course  of  the  day. 
Here  captain  Warrinjgton  found  his  prize,  the  Epervier, 
which  had  escaped  with  great  difficulty,  after  beating  off 
a  launch  well  manned  and  armed,  which  had  been  des- 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


251 


i  ship  laree 
inutes.    In 
r  sails  and 
back-stays, 
tijured,  and 
ick,  with  5 
jr  the  side ; 
it  nearly  in 
shot  away, 
by  45  shot, 
ine,  and  11 
and  14  men 
ission  of  by 
acock,  who, 
ad  been  dis- 

00  in  specie, 
ierred  to  the 
received  on 
pursued  his 
any  with  his 
igence. 

teing  almost 
rington  dis- 
icertained  to 
t  Nicholson, 
,  and  leaving 
to  make  the 

1  on  the  wind 
js  then  sepa- 
l  the  other  of 

lost  sight  of 
thward.  At 
il,  and  stood 
n,  and  was  a 
frigate  gave 
,  fell  in  with 
1  2d,  and  was 
orning  of  the 
;rance  of  Sa- 
.  of  the  day. 
the  Epervier, 
»r  beating  oft* 
id  been  des- 


patched from  the  frigate  to  overtake  her.  Lieutenant  Ni- 
cholson, by  his  iudgment  and  decision,  which  had  never 
been  known  to  desert  him  in  times  of  peril  and  difficulty, 
prevented  her  fecapture.  The  Epervier  was  repaired, 
refitted,  bought  into  the  service  at  Savannah,  and  the  com- 
mand given  to  captain  Downes,  of  the  Essex  Junior. 

The  conduct  ot  lieut.  Henly ;  of  midshipmen  Greeves 
and  lUnlgers;  Mr.  Townsendf,  captain's  clerk,  uid  Mr. 
Myers,  master's  mate,  is  represented  by  captain  War- 
rineton  to  have  been  cool,  determined,  and  active,  llie 
sailing  master,  Percival,  the  same  who  captured  the  ten- 
der Eagle,  off  Sandy  Hook,  handled  the  ship  in  a  very 
superior  style,  and  placed  her  in  such  situations  as  were 
most  advantitteous,  with  much  ease  and  professional  skill. 

The  new  sloop  of  war  the  Wasp,  captain  Blakeley, 
mounting  20  guns,  having  been  completely  equipped  for 
a  long  cruise,  sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1814,  between  which  time  and  the  6th  of  the  following 
July,  she  captured  7  merchantmen,  and  a  brig  Gi  war, 
the  Reindeer^  captain  Manners,  of  18  guns,  and  one  shiftp 
ing  gun,  and  118  men.  This  capture  was  made  after  an 
action  of  19  minutes,  in  lat  48,  36,  N.  and  lone.  11,  15, 
W.  On  that  day,  at  15  minutes  after  4  A.  M.  me  Wasp 
beine  in  pursuit  of  two  sful  before  the  lee  beam,  disco- 
vert the  Reindeer  on  the  weather  beam,  and  immediate- 
ly altered  her  course,  and  hauled  by  in  chase  of  her.  The 
pursuit  continued  until  half  past  meridian,  when  the  Rein- 
deer, having  previously  hoisted  an.  English  «nsign  and 
pendant,  showed  a  blue  and  white  flag  at  the  fore,  and 
fired  a  gun.  At  15  minutes  past  1,  captain  Blak«ley  calH- 
ed  all  hands  to  Quarters,  ana  prepared  for  action.  At  22 
minutes  past  1,  he  tacked  ship,  and  stood  for  the  Rein- 
deer, with  an  expectation  of  being  able  to  weather  her. 
At  50  minutes  past  1,  the  Reindeer  tacked  and  stood  from 
the  Wasp.  56  minutes  past  1,  the  Wasp  hoisted  her  co- 
lours, and  fired  a  gun  to  windward,  whicn  was  answered. 
The  chase  was  kept  up  until  32  minutes  past  2,  when  the 
Reindeer  tacked  for  ine  Wasp;  and  the  latter  took  in  her 
stay  sails,  and  furled  the  royals.  Captain  Blakeley  hav- 
ing now  discovered  that  the  Reindeer  would  weather 
him,  immediately  tacked  ship;  and  at  15  minutes  past  1, 
the  Reindeer  being  on  his  weather  quarter,  at  60  yards 
distance,  fired  her  shifting  gun,  a  12  pound  carronade. 


^ 


:*!i' 


I  ''it 


S52 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot.  At  17  minuter  past 
3,  the  "ame  gun  was  fired  again;  at  19  minutes  past  3^  it 
was  fired  amird  time;  at  21  miautes  past  3,  a  fourth 
time;  and  at  £4  minutes  past  3,  a  fifth  time.  The  Rein- 
Jeer  not  getting  sufficiently  on  the  beam  of  the  Wasp,  the 
latter  was  compelled  to  receive  these  repeated  discharges 
without  being  aole  to  bring  a  gun  to  bear.  Her  helm  was 
therefore  put  a-lee,  and  at  26  minutes  past  3,  captain 
Blakeley  commenced  the  acdon  with  his  after  carronade. 
on  the  starboard  side,  and  fired  in  succession.  Then.ain- 
sail  was  then  hauled  up.  At  40  minutes  past  3,  the  Rein- 
deer's larboard  bow  being  in  contact  with  the  larboard 
quarter  of  the  Wasp,  captain  Manners  directed  his  crew 
to  board  her.  The  attempt  was  ^llantl  j  repulsed  by  the 
crew  of  the  Wasp,  who  several  times  beat  off  the  enemy; 
and  at  44  minutes  past  3,  were  ordered  to  board  in  turn. 
Throwing  themselves  with  great  promptitude  upon  the 
deck  of  me  Reindeer,  they  succeeded  in  the  execution  of 
their  orders,  and  her  flag  came  uown  at  45  minutes  past 
3.  In  a  line  with  her  ports  she  was  cut  almjj^st  to  pieces ; 
her  upper  works,  boats,  and  spare  spars,  entirely  de- 
e'troyed,  and  on  the  following  day  her  fore  mast  went  by 
the  Doard.  25  of  her  crew  were  killed,  and  42  wounded, 
making  a  loss  of  67  men.  On  board  the  Wasp,  the  inju- 
ry sustained  was  not  so  material.  Her  rigging  was  de- 
stroyed, however,  in  several  places,  her  foremast  pit  f-ed 
throiTsh  by  a  24-pound  ball,  and  her  hull  struck  by  6 
rouna  shot,  and  many  grape,  though  not  witli  sufficient 
force  to  peneti-ate  far  Her  loss  amounted  to  5  killed, 
and  21  wounded,  principally  in  boarding.  Among  the 
latter,  midshipmen  Langdon  and  Toscan,  both  of  whom 
expired  some  days  after.  Having  received  the  prisoners 
and  their  ba^^e  on  board  the  Wasp,  captain  BlaKeley 
blew  up  the  Reindeer  on  the  evening  or  the  29tli,  and 
saile'l  foj  I.'Orient  to  provi.ie  for  the  disabled  part  of 
each  crew,  whose  wounds  'had  become  offensive  m  con- 
sequence of  the  intense,  heat  of  the  weather.  He  arrived 
,'i  i  that  port  on  th«  6th  of  July,  and  found  that  their  da- ' 
mage  could  be  repaired  by  the  carpenters  of  the  ship  in  a 
few  days. 

In  this  ac^^lon,  lieutenants  Bury  and  Reily,  who  had 
'  )een  in  the  en^gements  with  the  Guerriere  and  Java, 
and  lieutenant  TiUinghast  (2d),  who  was  instrumfntal 


# 


Hit  TAB  LATE  ifXSU 


25$ 


iute;s  past 
past  %  it 
a  fourth 
rhe  Rein- 
A'^asp,  the 
lischarges 
helm  was 
J,  captain 
carronadcr 
The  nain- 
,  the  Rein- 
i  larboard 
i  his  crew 
sed  by  the 
he  enemy; 
rd  in  turn. 
5  upon  the 
tecution  of 
inutea  past 
;  to  pieces ; 
ntirely  de- 
ist went  by 
a  wounded, 
p,  the  iniu- 
ng  was  de- 
ist pit  f-ed 
;ruck  bj  6 
L  suficient 
»  5  killed, 
V.mong  the 
1  of  whom 
B  prisoners 
1  BlaKeley 
29tl!i,  and 
ed  part  of 
ive  in  con- 
e  arrived 
i  then  da- ' 
|e  ship  in  a 

who  had 

and  Java, 

itrumental 


tiff  the  capture  of  the  Boxer,  im^ntained  the  high  credit 
^lichtilie^  acquired  dn  those  previ^s  occitetoilp.  \A|id 
captain  iimceiey,  wh<Me  reputatioii  ^^'M  a  skillifl  seaman, 
and  an  exp<;rt  nay^itorr,  k  n<^  iwrpiissed  b}r  ant  naViil 
offlcei ,  had  his  crew  m  w^  drilled, upon  the-prhia^les  of 
maritie  discipKne^ithat  tiiey  never  des^ired  ofWnquisMiig 
an  ^uM  feree  of  #JQir  enemy.  • 
•  to  the  port  of  li'Drient,  the  IVasp  was  detuned  by 
1:  uid  winds  until  i^aeS^i*.  August,  having  been  anchored 
there  5S  days.  Dttrir.«  this  timie,  every  attention  \*as 
mv^n  to  har  officers  and  trew  by  the  mhabitantti,  and 
tneir  situation,  in  a  foreign  port,  rendered  particularly 
agreeable  by  the  assiduities  of  the  Americain  minister. 

After  leaving  that  place,  and  rapturing  two  yaluable 
British  itierchantmen,  captain  Blakeley  fell  in  with  a  con- 
voy of  10  sail,  on  the  1st  of  September,  under  tihie  p«t)tec . 
tion  of  the  Armada  74,!V\d  a  bomb  s^ip.    He  ^tood  for 
then^.  and  succeeded  in  cutting  out  ot  the  Sfihiadron,  a 
brig  laden   with   brass   and  iron  cannon,  and  military 
stonres,  from  Gibraltar;  and  after  taking  out  tl|ie  prison- 
ers, and  setting  h^  on  fire,  he  ende^^vottted  to  cUf  out 
annUier  vessel,  but  w&s  driven  off  by  the  f  4.    In  the  even- 
ing, at  half  past  6,  he'  discovered  2  vess«3lls  on  his  lar- 
boi!urd,  aiid  d  on  the  staHjoard  bow^  and  hftu)ed  for  that 
whieh  was  farttiest  to  windwnrd.    At  7,  she  wiw  tilLide 
out  t'j  be  a  bri^  of  war,  making  signals  with  flagSj  which 
could  n<^  be  diElinguished,  owmgto  the  darkness  of  the 
nijl^t;  and  at  29  minutes  pa^t  9,  she  Was  under  the  le<» 
bow  of  the  Wasp.  Captain  Blakeley  ordered  the  12-j»ound 
carronade  to  be  fired  into  her,  aaii^  received  a  return  from 
the  stranger.    The  Wasp  then  ran  under  the  iee  bow  of 
the  enei^y  to  prevent  her  escape,  and  iminediateij  com- 
menced an  action  which  continued  until  10  o'clock,  when 
captain  Blakeleyi  auppdl^ing  his  antagonist  to  be  silenced, 
ceased  firing,  and  hailed  to  know  if  she  had  surrendered. 
i'to  answer  l«i{^  given  to  this  demand,  he  recomtnenced 
fiiingj  and  the  enemy  returned  him  broadside  for  broad- 
side.  '  At  1£  minutes  past  10,  the  enemy  having  made 
no  return  to  the  two  last  broadsides,  was  again  hailed  to 
know  if  he  had  surrendered.    Captain  Blakeley  was  in- 
formed that  the  vessel  being  in  a  sinking  condition,  her 
commander  had  struck  hi  a  colours.    The  Wasp's  hoat$ 
were  immediately  lovt'ei^d,  when  a  second  brig  of  war 

Y 


# 


234 


IIISTOttirCAI.  SK£TCH£8 


Hill    -i     ^' 


was  digcorereB  a  Kttte  distance  astenr,  standing  hr  her. 
'jn^ecrew  were  instantly  sent  to  their  quarters,  and  pif^' 
parations  invade  for  another  engf^qient  TheWasp^  was 
laying  to  for  the  approach  of  the  setond  stran^r,  when 
ai  36  minutes  past  10,  two  other  brigs  W^«  mscoversd 
standing  also  for  her.  Under  these  circamstances,  cf^itain 
Blakeley  was  prevented  fronri  taking  possession  of  his  prize, 
and  keeping  (m  the  wind,  with  an  expectation  of  draining 
the  brig,  first  discovered,  after  him^  he  w^ered  new  braces 
to  lye  rove,  to  replace  those  which  had  been  sh^  away. 
His  expectations  were  not,  however,  answered,  the  bng 
of  war  continuing  in  pursuit  onlj  until  she  was  near 
enough  under  his  stern,  to jgive  him  a  broadside,  and  rer 
turn  to  her  companions.  Tnis  ^e  did',  and  cut  the  rig- 
ging and  sailB,  and  shot  away  a  lower  main  cross  ti'ee 
of  me  Wasp.  .     , 

The  name  and  force  of  the  prize  has  since  be^  tscer- 
tained.  She  was  tiie  sloop  of  war  Avon,  cimtain  Arbuth- 
not,  of  the  same  immber  of  guns  as  the  Reindeer,  and 
sunk  immediately  after  the  Castilian  (the  vessel  which 
chased  the  Wasp)  had  taken  out  her  last  man.  Accord- 
ing to  the  enemy's  account,  her  captain  was  wounded  in 
both  legs*  The  first  lieutenant  and  8  men  killed,  and 
the  second  lieutenant,  1  midshipman,  and  31  men, 
wounded. 

The  Wasp  received  in  her  hull,  four  3S^und  shot,  and 
in  her  mainmast  &  number  of  grape  shot.  Her  sails  and 
rigging  were  much  damaged,  but  her  loss  in  men  amount- 
ed  to  only  ^  killed,  and  1  wounded.  She  repaired  her 
damages  on  the  succeeding  day,  and  continued  to  cruise, 
in  conformity  to  her  instructions  from  the  navy  departs 
ment.  On  trie  2 1st  of  September,  she  captured,  oft'  the 
Madeiras,  her  thiiteenth  prize,  the  British  brig  Atalanta, 
of  8  guns,  and  tlie  only  one  which  she  sent  into  porL-~ 
Thffi  vessel  arrived  at  Savannah,  in  the  beginning  of 
November,  under  the  command  of  Mr,  Geisingen,  one  of 
the  officers  of  the  Wasp,  with  despatciies  from  captain 
I^keley. 

The  Atalanta  left  the  Wasp,  at  sea,  on  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember, without  knowing:  the  destination  to  which  her 
further  cruise  would  convey  her,  and,  smce  that  time,  no 
official  accounts  have  been  received  from  her.  Her 
cruise  was,,  therefore,  most  briiliaut  aud  unparalleled*  her 


mv  THB  1.ATS  WAV. 


A»5 


icling  for  her« 
•ters,  and  p^B*- 
"hftWaspwM 
ratifer,  when 
iu  mscovewd 
ances,  ca^ain 
onofhispri2«» 
on  of  drawing 
ed  new  braces 
en  shot  away, 
ered,  the  bng 
she  was  near 
idside,  and  re- 
id  cut  the  rig- 
ain  cross  ti-ee 

ice  been  ascer- 
aptain  Arbnth- 
Reindeer,  uid 
e  vessel  which 
man.  Accord- 
iras  wounded  in 
icn  killed,  and 
and  31   men, 

)Ottnd  shot,  and 
Her  sails  and 
n  men  ainount- 
16  repaired  her 
inucd  to  cruise, 
e  navy  depart- 
iptured,  off  the 
\  brig  Atalanta, 
snt  into  port — 
\e  beginning  of 
eiBina;eii,  one  of 
;8  &om  captain 

the  2Sd  of  Sep- 
n  to  which  her 
ice  that  time,  no 
from  her.  Her 
nparalleled,  her 


sailors  all  yoai^  athletic,  brare  and  entirasiastic,  and 
her  officers  among  the  most  skilful  in  the  service.  Tba 
public  mind  has  Men,  therefore,  greatly  agitat«d,  by  ap- 
prehensioiiH  about  her  safety^  and  hi  ~  Tefum  to  port 
looked  for,  with  painful  aniiety,  by  people  of  ^ 
whole  countrv. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


Proposed  planof  operations  in  Lower  Canada— *The  army 
quit  the  quarters  at  French  Mills-^Incursion  of  the 
British  to  Malone — 8mfjgffler»—^^ovement  against  La 
Colle-^Concentration  of  the  British  fon^ces  at  Isle  au0 
^oico— General  Wilkinson's  recal-^Establisliment  of  a 
battety  at  Otter  Creek—British  appear  at  its  moitth-^ 
*Are  repulsed'— Operations  on  Ontario'— Lieutenant 
Dudley — Defence  of  Fort  OswegoSecond  appearance 
of  the  British  there^—*Attack  upon  Charlotte  town,  on 
GenesseeMver — British  land  at  Poultneyvill»-^Block' 
ode  of  Sackefs  Harbour— »Bn  engagement  at  Sandy 
Creeks  and  capture  ff  the  whole  Briti^  force-^Tht 
British  fleet  retire  to  Kingston-— l^he  ^Americans  block- 
ade them>—<An  affair  near  Odeltown— Death  of^olonel 
Forsythe— -Expedition  against  Long  Pmnt,  Canador-r' 
Colonel  Bauhee  taken  prisoner— Incursion  to  Long 
Wood,  Canada,  and  defeat  of  tfie  British, 

In  the  winter  of  1813,  we  left  the  northern  army, 
under  general  Wilkinson,  in  quarters,  the  right  division 
being  at  Champlain,  and  the  left,  and  largest,  at  French 
Mills.  Between  that  time  and  the  spring  of  1814,  seve- 
ral plans  of  attack  upon  the  posts  ofSt^rhilip,  L'Ac»diie 
and  St.  John's,  by  the  route  of  Hammerford,  La  Tortue 
and  St.  Piere,  and  for  a  simultaneous  movement  against 
Cornwall,  with  a  view  to  cut  off  the  communication  be- 
tween the  ifpper  and  Lower  Ptovinces,  were  swbmiited 
to  ike  )var  department,  by  the  commander  in  chief. — 
Before  the  propositions  were  received  at  the  depari-^ent, 


256 


HJSVOttlCAL  SK£TC!iI£S 


¥:■>'! 


li 


or^ro  had  been  forwarded  to  Saknoti  riyer,  directing  tiie 
general  to  withdraw  his  forces  from  French  Mills;  to  for- 
ward SOO&men,  with  a  proportion  of  field  and  batterine 
cannon,  under  ^neral  Brown,  to  Sacket's  Harbour;  and 
to  fall  back,  wim  the  residue  of  the  troops,  stores,  and 
baegage,  to  Plattsburg. 

in  conformity  to  these  orders,  the  flotilla,  in  which  the 
army  had  descended  the  St  Lawrence,  was  destroyed  oh 
tbe  ni^it  of  the  12th  of  February;  the  barracks  were  fii*ed 
on  the  succeeding  day,  and  the  troops  abandoned  their 

Suarters,  and  marched  toward  tiie  several  places  of  their 
estioation.  V 

General  Wilkinson  had  scarcely  reached  Plattsbui^, 
before  he  was  apprised  of  a  movement  of  the  enemy, 
with  a  view  to  the  capture  ai  a  few  sick  men,  whose  (ex- 
treme illness  renderea  it  indispensable  they  should  be  left 
in  ^  hospital  at  Malone,  a  short  distance  from  the  Mills. 
He,  therefore,  determined  on  their  expuhdon  from  the 
territory,  in  tirae  to  prevent  the  achievement  of  their  ob- 
ject, and  havi?ig  made  proper  arrangements,  for  the  con- 
venience and  comfort  of  the  sick  at  their  new  quarters, 
he  marched  with  all  possibl;e  expedition  to  meet  and  Re- 
pulse llie  enemy. 

Colonel  Scott,  of  the  IpSd  British  regiment,  command- 
ed the  expedition  asainst  French  Mills  and  Malone,  com- 
posc^l  of  2000  regulars,  Glenearians,  and  militia,  and  ac- 
companied by  nearly  300  guides  and  followers.  He  cross- 
ed ov^r  td  the  Mills  on  the  21st,  burned  the  arsenal  at 
Malone,  pillaged  the  property  of  individuals,  and  carried 
off  several  barrels  of  public  provisions.  But,  hearing  of 
the  apjproach  of  the  American  troops, -he  retreated  in  great 
ccmfosion,  though  not  without  destroying  the  bridges  in 
his  rear.  TTie  wliole  party  suffered  severely  by  a,  tre- 
meiulous  storm  of  snow  and  hail,  which  prevailed  at  the 
close  of  the  day,  and  lost  upwards  of  200  deserters,  who 
surrendered  themselves  to  the  American  army. 

During  the  following  month  (March),  the  troops  were 
not  otherwise  engaged  than  in  breaking  up  a  system  of 
sniugffling,  which  had  been  carried  on  for  several  previous 
months,  and  which,  at  ^is  period,  was  extended  to  an 
alarming  and  dangerous  degree.  . 

Near  the  close  of  March,  general  Wilkinsop  deter- 


W'' 


mv  VSE  JJkT^  W11L 


U7 


»;  tofeir- 
Mitterine 

Hir;  an4 
res,  and 

irhich  the 
royed  oh 
irere  fired 
led  their 
s  of  their 

lattsburg, 
B  enemy, 
vhose  ex- 
Id  be  left 
the  Mills, 
from  the 
*  their  ob- 
p  the  con- 
quarters, 
»t  and  re- 

;ommand- 
one,  com- 
&,  and  ac- 
He  cross- 
ursenal  at 
id  carried 
learingof 
d  in  great 
tridges  in 
by  a  tre- 
jed  at  the 
ters,  who 

ops  were 
ystem  of 
previous 
Jed  to  an 

>li  deter- 


mined on*  establishing  a  battery  at  Route's  Pouit,  wlwre 
he  had  previoasly  discovered  a  poskion  well  adapted  &r 
a  work,  to  keep  in  check  the  oontenplated  moveimnt«f 
the  British  fleet,  destined  to  operate  upon  the  lake  Chaiik> 

Slain,  and  which  had  beien  laid  up  during  the  winter,  at 
t  John's,  about  21  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  La 
Colle,  and  26  from  Rouse's  Pcont;  After  this  position  had 
been  reconnoitred  by  his  engineer,  miyor  Totten,  he  made 
an  attempt  to  carry  this  object, into  executi(m,  bat  the 
sudden  and  unseasonable  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  defeated 
tile  plan;  and,  being  informed  that  the  enemy  had  taken 
the  alarm,  and  was  condensing  a  force  of  2500  men,  at 
La  CoUe  mill,  4  miles  from  RiMise's  Point,  he  determin- 
ed, on  the  opmionof  his  leading  officers,  and  a  report  that 
the  walls  could  be  effisctually  mttered,  wi'di  a  6-{>ottnder, 
to  attack  it.  On  tiie  30th,  he  accordingly  entered  Cana- 
da, and  was  met  by  a  party  of  the  enemy  at  Odelltowt^n, 
whom  he  forced  back  more  than  three  miles,  on  the  route 
to  Montreal,  in  the  course  of  which,  much  ^irmishiiM|[ 
took  fdace.  He  then  resumed  his  march  to  La  CoUe  nail, 
a  large  and  lofty  fortified  stone  house,  measuring  60  feet 
by  40,  and  at  that  time  in  command  of  major  Hancock, 
and  a  strong  corps  of  British  n^lars. 

To'drive  the  enemy  from  this  post,  and  to  tlStct  its 
destrui^on*  general  Wilkinson  ordered  forward  an  18« 
pounder,  and  disposed  his  troops  so  as  to  intercept  him 
m  an  attempt  to  retreat.  The  only  road  of  approach  be- 
ing through  a  deep  forest,  almmt  inundated,  and  covered 
with  insurmounti^le  obstructions,  to  the  passage  ei  a 
heavy  pwce  of  c^non,  the  18-pounder  could  noi  be 
brought  up,  and  the  general  determined  upon  attempting 
a  breach  with  a  twelve  a  '  a  five  and  an  naif  inch  howit- 
zer. He  took  post  with  tiicse  pieces,  under  coinaiand  of 
captain  M*Phersoa  and  Iiis  seconds,  iieutettantB  Larrabee 
and  Sheldon,  at  a  ("istance  of  950  yards  from  the  fortified 
house,  and  covere?i  them  with  the  2d  brigade,  compo6ie<i 
of  the  33d,  S4tl!,  4th,  and  tOth  regiments,  and  part  of  co- 
lonel Clarke's  command  under  brigadier  general  Sm^ 
on  the  ri^t;  and  the  3d  brigade,  oompo^d  of  tfie  14th 
and  20th,  under  biieadier  general  Hssel,  on  the  '  <  t.  Co- 
lonel Miller  wr.s  detached  Mrith  the  6th  and  i)iith,  and 

Y2 


25B 


HISTOEICAI.  SKl&TCHES 


ii 


ii 


part  of  the  19th,  to  cross  the  La  Colle,  and  form  a  line 
across  the  severidi.  roads  le^ing.  from  the  stone  house  m. 
^e  opposite  side  of  the  river,  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the 
B^tiwi  regulars.  J|i%adier  general  MComb,  wi^  a  se- 
lect corps  of  tiie  1st  brigade;  formed  the  reserve.  All 
these  r^imentft  were  mere  skeletons  consolidated.  This 
dbpositioa  being  completed,  the  battery  was  immediately 
opened  upon  tiie  enemy,  who  promptly  returned  the  fire, 
and  thfep  numbers  of  Congreve  rockets  upon  the  right 
wins  of  the  American  line.  From  these  manifestations 
of  deliberate  and  circumspect  preparation,  the  command 
der  of  the  American  forces  was  induced  to  believe  the 
report,  Ihat  the  number  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  ^00; 
his  strength  was, inferior  to  tiiat,  bowever,  thou^  compe- 
tent under  the  cover  of  stixms  walls,  to  repel  an  att«:k 
from  &  ffAuch  larger  number  of  assailants^  jf>  v« 

'ih.e  stone  house  stood  upon  that  side  of  the  river  on 
which  general  Wilkinson  had  drawn  up  his  Une;  a  block- 
house of  wood  stood  on  the  other ;  and  both  were  encom- 
passed by  an  open  piece  of  ground,  on  the  ^ge  of  a  ii^rood, 
bordering  upon,  which  the  Americans  had  taken  post; 
evfiry  officer,  therefore,  fronj  the  lowest  subaltern  up  to 
'  j4>  commander  in  chief,  was  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire. 
Here  the  ip^neral  made  proper  arr^igements  to  keep  his 
corps  in  order,  to  receive  a  combined  attack,  and  conti- 
nued to  cannonade  ihf  house,  but  without  beine  able  to 
^ect  a  breach,  although  tlie  f^nii  were  managea  with  un- 
comuiCH)  skill/ by, officers  accustomed  to  tiieir  use.  Cap- 
tain M'Kierson  had  laeen  already  wounded  under  the 
chin?  this  wound  he  immediately  bound  up,  and  conti- 
nued tu  direct  ^le  fire  from  his  piece,  until  a  second  shot 
broke  his  thu^,  and  rendered  him  unfit  for  further  duty. 
His  next  officer,  lieutenant  Larrabee,  was  shot  through 
the  lun^,  and  lieutenant  Bhelduii  kept  up  the  fire  with 
great  vivacity,  until  the  close  of  the  engalgement  The 
conduct  of  these  gentlemen  was  represented  by  tfieir 
rommander  to  be  "so  conspicuously  pliant  as  to at^acjt 
the  admiration  of  their  brotners  in  arms." 

Relying  on  the  firinnesM  and  intrepidity  of  his  troops, 
and  seeing  that  the  Americans  were  resolved  on  the  lon- 
ger mainlMnance  of  the  cannonade,  ihe  British  comman- 
dtr,  mt\|or  Hancook,  determined  on  issuing  a  strong  party 


mtTBM  LAITB  WAB« 


259 


n  a  line 
Lottse  on 
it  of  the 
i*h  a  se- 
ve.    All 
i.    This 
lediately 
[the  fire, 
the  right 
estailons 
comman<- 
lUeve  the 
to  ^00; 
h  compe- 
m  attack 

i  river  on 
;  ablockr 
re  encom- 
dI  awood, 
ken  post; 
kern  up  to 
eitty*8  fire. 
>  keep  his 
uid  conti- 
ig  able  to 
f  with  un- 
[ge.    Cap- 
inder  the 
md  conti- 
icond  shot 
ther  duty, 
through 
fire  with 
lent    The 
by  their 
to  attracjt 

kis  troops, 
n  the  lon- 
comman- 
•opg  party 


from  the  house  to  storm  the  battery,  and  put  the  assail- 
ants to  fli^t  He  gave  Orders  for  a  sadden  and  imme- 
diate sortie,  and  several  desperate  chains  were  attempt- 
ed  upon  the  cannon.  These  were  successively  repulsed 
by  the  covering  troo|>s,  and  the  enemy's  regulars  obliged 
to  retire  to  the  fortified  building,  witn  considerable  \oa^. 
They  then  shut  themselves  up  in  tiie  house,  and  con- 
vinced of  their  ability  to  retain  their  position,  put  at  de- 
fiance the  utmost  elTorts  of  the  Amencans;  and  general 
Wilkinson  being  now  persuaded  of  the  im^racticafaolity 
of  making  an  impression,  with  such  light  pieces,  upon  a 
solid  stone  wall,  round  upon  experiment  to  b«  of  unusual 
thickness,  called  in  his  aetachments,  witlidrew  his  Imtte- 
ry,  and  havii^  previously  removed  his  dead  and  wounded; 
fell  back  to  ^lelltown  at  about  6  o'clock  of  the  same  day. 
Thence  he  moved  to  Champlain  and  Plattsburg,  at  which 
latter  place  he  established  his  quarters.  The  American 
loss  in  this  aftau*  amounted  to  140  in  killed  and  wounded; 
among  the  latter  lieutenants  Green  and  Parker,  of  ihe 
infantry.  The  enemy's  loss  was  known  to  be  considera- 
ble in  uie  sortie,  but  tiie  amount  has  never  been  accurate- 
ly ascertained.  • 

Immediately  after  the  incursion  to  La  Colle,  the  whole 
regular  force  of  Lower  Canada,  and  a  battalion  of  G4en- 
garians  from  Coteau  de  Lac,  were  concentrated  at  Isle 
aux  Noix,  and  a  large  number  of  batteaax  collected  at  St; 
J^n's.  The  formet  awaiting  the  movement  of  the  Bri- 
tish fleets  whose  boats  were  emfdoyed  in  the  daily  exami- 
nation of  the  ice  on  the  lake,  on  the  breaking;  up  of  which 
such  movement  depended.  This  event  took  place  in  the 
be^nning  of  the  month  of  April,  and  early  m  May  the 
Bntish  itotilla  entered  lake  Champlain. 

Previously  to  their  appearance  on  the  lake,  general 
Wilkinson  had  been  recalled  from  that  district,  by  an  or- 
der from  the  department,* of  the  24th  March.  But,  bcine 
apprised  of  the  equipment  of  the  enemy's  flotilla,  and  m 
their  intention  to  blockade  the  mouth  of  Otter  creek, 
leading  to  the  town  of  Vergenne- .  where  the  American 
fleet  lay  waiting  for  their  armament,  he,  notwithstanding 
this  order,  visited  the  capes  at  its  entrance,  conferred 
with  commodore  Macdouough  at  Vei^^nnes,  and  made 
arrangements  to  erect  a  battery  and  fortifv  that  points— 


260 


HlgTORlOAX  »KSTCB£S 


Thii  precantton  proved  to  be  of  incalculable  senrice,  and 
amply  jirovi(kda||[;ainBt  an  attempt  to  obstniet  the  pa8- 
saae  ofthe  American  squadron  into  the  lake. 

On  the  45th  of  Maj,  not  long  after  the  batter j  had  been 
constructed  on  the  cape,  a  bomb  vessel,  and  8  large  row 
galliea  irere  stationed,  by  the  enemy,  across  the  entrance 
of  the  creek,  with  a  view  to  its  blockade,  and  to  cut  oflf 
supplies  for  a  new  ship  just  then  completing,  and  in* 
tended  to  be  adcted  to  me  American  squadron.  Captain 
TJuMTiton,  d^the  light  artillery,  was  despatched  to  defend 
the  battery^  and  commodore  Macdonough  placed  a  num* 
ber  of  satlors,  under  lieutenant  Cassin,  oi  the  navy,  t» 
co-operate  with  the  artillery.  A  new  large  gun  brig,  and 
several  other  gallies,  being  at  the  same  time  about  two 
miles  in  the  rear  «f  the  bomb  vessel,  suspicions  were  en- 
tertained of  the  enemy's  intentions  to  land  a  detachment 
of  troops,  either  to  capture  the  provisions  in  the  nei^- 
bourhood,  or  to  assail  tne  battery  from  the  rear*  General 
Davis,  of  the  Vermcmt  militia,  immediately  called  out  a 
detachment  of  his  brigade,  and  made  dispositions  to  re> 
sist  an  invasion.  At  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  14th, 
the  bomb  ship  opened  her  battery  upon  tiie  new  works, 
and  continued  the  attack  upwards  oi  two  hours^  without 
doing  any  other  mjury  than  the  dismounting  of  one  gun. 
Captain  Thornton,  with  his  matrosieaj^  and  Ueutenant 
Cassin*  with  his  sailors*  Returned  the  ire  with  constant 
animation,  compelled  the  enemy  to  withdraw  from  his  po- 
sition, ami  captared  two  ga^lties,  which  the  British  seamen 
were  dl>liged  to  abandon.  The  bomb  ship,  and  the  re- 
minder of  the  ^lies,  stood  off  to  the  oth^r  vessels,  and 
the  whole  squadron  proceeded  down  the  laf^e,  passed 
Burlin^oil,  and  had  some  skirmishing  with  a  small  body 
of  militia,  \mAer  general  Wright,  who  manoeuvred  so  well 
as  to  persuade  the  enemy  ^t  his  force  was  much 
stronger.  During  the  attack,  commod<H%  Macdonouoh 
attempted  to  bring  the  American  vessels  down  the  credk, 
but  did  not  succeM  in  reaching  the  mouth  until  the  ene- 
my had  departed.    . 

The  enemy  were  not  less  active  in  their  operations 
aloi^  the  shores  of  the  lake  Ontario;  and  the  command- 
ers of  the  rival  armaments  there,  lost  no  time  in  prepar- 
ing and  equipping  their  vessels,  to  take  the  lake  early  in 


J  .-if^^i 


OP  THB  liATlB  WAB. 


26^1 


rice»«nd 
thepaB- 

hadbeen 
irge  row 
entruice 
0  cot  off 
and  in* 
Captain 
:o  defend 
d  a  num-> 
navy,  to 
brig,  and 
bout  two 
were  en- 
tachment 
he  neigh- 
General 
led  out  a 
ms  to  re- 
rthcl4th, 
ew  works, 
9,  without 
one  gun. 
ieutenant 
k  constant 
»m  his  po- 
ih  seamen 
the  re* 
lels,  and 


lali  body 
so  well 
ks  much 
Icdonoudi 
Ihe  cre«c, 

the  ene- 

irati<niB 

lomooand- 

prepar- 

early  in 


the  spring*  At  the  close  of  the  preoediiw  autumn,  ther 
had  manceuVred  with  uncommon  skills  though  not  mti 
equal  success,  the  one  to  draw  his  enemy  into  an  eoptgt' 
ment,  the  other  to  avoid  fightins,  for  mt  supremacy  of 
the  water,  until  his  fleet  should  be  augmenteif  by  an  ad-' 
ditional  force.  At  Kingston,  an  immense  vessel  was 
building  for  that  purpose;  and,  at  Backets  Harbour,  a 
new  ship  was  ordered;  of  a  sufficient  size  to  maintain 
the  existing  equality.  Whilst  these  vessels  were  con- 
structing, various  plans  were  continually  adopted  to  de- 
stroy then),  and  all  the  caution  of  one  party,  became 
necessary  to  guard  aeainst  the  vi^lance  of  the  other.  On 
one  occasion,  the  25th  of  Apfil,  three  of  the  enemy's  boats 
succeeded  in  getting  close  in  with  th»  harbour,  when 
lieutenant  Dudley,  m  the  navy,  being  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  detected  and  fired  upon  them.  Each  boat  "Was 
provided  with  two  barrels  of  powder,  attached  to  c&ch 
other  by  means  of  ropes,  and  intended  to  be  placed  un- 
der the  stocks  of  the  vessels.  Upon  being  fired  at,  they 
immediately  threw  ^e  powder  into  the  lake,  to  prevent 
an  explosion  of  their  own  boats,  and  pvlled  off  without 
returning  a  shot. 

Failing  in  all  his  attempts  to  destroy  the  hull  of  the 
new  ship,  the  British  commander  determined  upon  inter- 
cepting her  ri^ngi  naval  stores,  and  guns.  These  had 
been  depositea  at  Oswego,  about  60  nmes  from  the  har- 
bour, and  thither  sir  James  Yeo,  and  lieut^ianlt  general 
Drummond,  resolved  to  sail  with  the  whole  fleet,  and  a 
competent  number  of  troops,  to  land  and  stonh  tike  fort, 
and  capture  this  valuable  booty.  Accordingly,  on  the 
5th  of  May,  sir  James  appeared  before  the  fort,  with  4 
lai^  ships,  3  brigs,  and  a  number  of  gun  boats,  barges 
ana  transports — the  transports  principally  cofktaining  trtcr 
troops  of  lieutenant  general  Drummond.  The  success- 
ful issue  of  this  expedition,  would  have  fdven  to  the  Bri- 
tish forces,  for  a  time  at  least,  a  decided  superiority  <m 
the  laJcOj  and,  without  knowing  that  the  stores  had  been 
previously  removed  from  Oswego,  they  commenced  an 
attack,  which  was  kept  up  for  nearly  two  days,  the  bril- 
liant and  unusual  rti^sistance  to  which,  did  not,  however, 
avail  the  American  garrison.  The  fort  mounted  but  5 
old  guns,  3  Of  which  were  ahnost  useless,  and  had  a  shore 
battery  of  one  12-pounder.   It  had  been  garrisoned  buia 


362 


HISTOSICAX  SKETCHES 


few  days,  bj  lieutenant  colonel  Mitchell  of  the  artitieiy, 
aa^  ii90  men.  The  schooner  Growler,  having  on  board 
cafltain  Woolsey  and  lieutenant  Pearce  of  the  nary,  was 
at  that  time  in  Oswego  creek,  receiving  the  cannon  which 
had  not  yet  been  removed.  The  enemy  were  no  sooner 
discovered,  than  the  Growler  was  sunk  to  prevent  the 
capture  of  the  cannon,  and  all  the  tents  in  store  were  im** 
mediately  pitched,  on  the  village  side  of  the  creek,  to 
persuade  the  enemy  that  the  Americans  were  numerous. 
Under  lieutenant  Fearce,  the  few  sailors  of  the  Ghrowler 
were  added  to  the  garrison;  the  shore  battery  was  com- 
manded by  captain  Boyle,  who  was  seconded  by  lieute- 
nant Legate. 

At  about  1  o'clock,  15  large  boats,  crowded  with  troops, 
moved,  at  a  given  signal,  to  4he  shore,  preceded  by  seve- 
ral gun  boats.  Which  were  sent  forward  to  cover  the  land- 
ing; whilst  all  the  larger  vessels  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon 
the  little  fort  The  contest  was  kept  up  with  great  vi^ur 
and  equal  vivacity;  the  fort  itself  returned  a  very  anima- 
ted fire;  and  the  shore  battery,  succeeded  twice  in  re- 
pulsing the  debarking  boats,  and  at  length  compelled 
them  to  retire  to  their  shipping.  The  whole  squadron 
then  stood  off,  and  anchored  at  a  distance  from  the  .shore; 
one  of  their  boats^  being  60  f^et  in  length,  and  carrying 
36  oars  and  3  sails,  was  so  much  shattered,  that  her  crew 
abandofted  her,  and  she  fell  into  the  hands  of  thie  Ameri- 
can artill^. 

Though  tne  British  were  thus  compelled  to  retire  from 
the  assault  of  the  fort,  it  was  by  no  means  to  be  supposed 
that  ik'jy  had  relinquished  their  intention  of  storming  and 
possessing  it  The  immense  superiority  of  their  force 
and  means,  would  not  justify  such  a  supposition,  and  co- 
lonel Mitchell  was  therefore  particularly  vigilant  He  sta- 
tioned picquet  guards  at  the  different  points  of  debarka- 
tion, kept  his  men  upon  t^eir  arms  dunng  the  night,  and 
neglected  no  measure  of  precaution.  Mortified  at  so  suc- 
cessful a  resistagce,  by  a  force  known  to  be  so  much  in- 
ferior and  protected  by  weak  batteries,  the  enemy  deter- 
mined to  effect  a  landing  under  cover,  as  well  of  their 
lai^  vessels,  as  of  the  gun  boats,  and  at  daybreak  of  the 
6tJi,  they  approached  me  shore  again.  They  were  early 
discovered  coming  up,  under  easy  sail,  and  soon  after 
tlie  principal  ship,  tlie  Wolf,  and  the  other  fi*^tes,  re- 


OV  THE  LATE  WAB. 


263 


artiBeiy, 
OB  board 
navy,  wa» 
ion  which 
no  sooner 
event  the 
i  were  im- 
creek,  to 
numerous, 
e  Ghrowler 
was  com- 
by  lieute- 

ith  troops, 

i  by  seve- 

r  the  land- 

y  fire  upon 

reatvi^ur 

ery  anima- 

rice  in  re- 

compeiled 

I  squadron 

the  .^ore ; 

d  carrying 

her  crew 

lie  Aftiefi- 

etire  from 
e  supposed 
)rming  and 
their  force 
n,  and  co- 
it.  Hesta- 
if  debarka^ 
night,  and 
latsosuc- 
o  much  in- 
Bmy  deter- 
ell  of  their 
eak  of  the 
were  early 
soon  after 
iigates,  re- 


sumed their  position  before  the  fort  and  battery,  whilst 
the  brigs,  schooners,  and  g^n  boats,  proceeded  higher  up 
to  cover^  by  their  fire,  the  landing  of  the  troops.  The 
Wolf,  and  the  frigates,  kept  up  the  cannonade  for  three 
hours,  whilst  the  land  forces,  to  the  number  of  1700, 
composed  of  one  column  of  De  Watteville  regiment,  led 
by  lieutenant  colonel  Fischer,  on  the  left;  a  second  co- 
lumn of  a  battalion  of  marines,  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Malcolm,  supported  by  a  detachment  of  200  seamen,  un- 
der captain  Mulcasterj  the  second  officer  of  the  fleet,  on 
the  right;  succeeded  under  a  tremendous  fire  from  Ihe 
brigs  and  schooners,  in  jgaining  tiie  shore,  where  their  ad- 
vance was  resisted  by  lieutenant  Pearce  of  the  navy,  and 
a  small  party  of  seamen.  The  landing  being  effected,  co- 
lonel. Mitchell  withdrew  to  the  rear  of  the  fort,  united 
with  the  sailors,  two  companies  of  artillerymen,  under 
caj^in  Melvin,  and  lieutenant  Ansart,  and  assailed  the 
invading  columns,  whilst  the  companies  of  captains  M'ln- 
tire  andPierceof  the  heavy  artillery  engaged  the  enemy's 
flanks.  Thus  formed,  he  boi*4tained  a  v^rous  and  des-> 
perate  conflict  upwai^s  of  SO  minutes,  m  which  great 
slaughter  was  made  among  the  enemy,  and  a  severe  loss 
experienced  by  the  troops  of  the  garnson.  Against  a 
force,  I  vever,  which  amounted  to  ten  time  tl^ir  own 
number,  ,  was  found  useless  for  the  American^  onger  to 
contend;  and  col(mel  Mitchell  accordingly  fell  back,  about 
400  yards  from  the  enemy,  where  he  formed  his  troops 
and  iook  up  his  march  for  the  falls,  13  miles  in  the  rear 
of  the  fort,  upon  Oswq^o  river,  to  which  place  the  stores 
had  been  previously  removed.  He  retired  in  such  good 
order,  as  to  be  able  to  destroy  the  bridges  in  his  rear,  not- 
witiistanding  he  was  pressed  by  a  numerous  foe. 

The  enemy  tlien  took  possession  of  the  fort,  and  bar- 
racks, but  for  the  little  booty  which  he  obtained,  consist- 
ing of  a  few  barrels  of  provisions,  and  whiskey,  he  paid 
much  more  than  an  equivalent,  tim  loss,  in  killed, 
amounted  to  70;  in  wounded,  drowieij^  and  missine,  165; 
in  all  235.  Among  these,  were  caprpii)  Baltaway  Killed, 
and  captains  Mulcaster,  Popham,  and  Ledei^rew,  and  2 
lieutenants  and  1  master  wounded.  In  the  noble  and  ob- 
stinate resistance  which  they  made,  the  Americans  lost 
lieutenant  Blaney,  an  ofiicer  of  high  promise,  and  5  meA 
kUled,  38  W4Ninded,  and  125  missing ;  in  all  69  men.     ^. 


-fe; 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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WI»STIR,N.Y.  MS80 

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264 


HI8TOBICAL  SKETC^HES 


On  <iie  merning  of  the  7th,  the  enemy  findinr  #iiit  the 

object  of  the  exfi^ition,  ihot^  prosecuted  with  a  force 

includuiff^^^  <he  ships' crew8»  of  9000  men,  had  n«t  be«n 

achieved,  evacuated  the  place,  after  firine  the  kuracks, 

'spiking  some,  and  carrjmg  off  others,  of  me  suns. 

On, the  9th,  thevreta. tied  to  Oswee^o  and  seniaiiag 
into  the  village,  informing  the  inhabitants  of  their  inlen^ 
,tion  of  landing  a  krge  force  to  jH'oceed  to  the  falls  for 
^e  execr  don  of  their  original  plan;  but  on  being  assured 
by  the  people  that  tiie  stores  had  berni  removed  from  that 
place,  and  that  the  communication  was  cut  off  by  the  de- 
struction of  the  bridges,  they  quitted  Osw^o,  and  stood 
for  Kingston.  . 

On  the  evening  of  the  ISth,  4  ships,  2  brigs,  and  5  eun 
boats,  ef  tliis  squadron,  were  discovered  shaping  .their 
coijrse  for  Charlotte,  a  town  near  the  mouth  ol  the  Gen- 
nessee  river.  At  this  town,  a  corps  of  volunteers,  amount- 
ing to  160  men,  and  havine  one  field  piece,  had  been 
stationed  for  its  defence;  and  the  commanding  officer,  on 
thjB  appearance  of  the  fleets  immediately  de^mtched  ex- 
presses to  general  P.  B.  Porter,  who  arnved' there  early 
on  tlie  morning  of  the  1  '^th.^— In  answer  to  a  flag^  which 
bad  been  sent  ashore,  with  a  demand  for  the  surrender 
of  the  place,  general  Porter  returned  a  positive  re^sal. 
Two  ^n  boats,  carrying  between^  ana  300  men,  then 
entered  the  river,  ana  opened  'a  fire  up<m  the  town  and 
battery,  which  they  continued,  with  little  effect^  for  an 
hour  and  a  half.  The  commodore  sent  in  a  second  flag, 
with  a  repetition  of  his  demand,  accompanied  by  atiureat 
to  land  ISOO  regulars,  to  destroy  the  town.  By  this  time 
^e  women  ana  children  were  all  removed,  about  350 
militia  collected,  and  dispositions,  made  to  cut  off  the  gun 
boats,  if  they  should  approach  furth^  up  the  river.  Being 
wdl  assured  of  the  determination  of  his  men,  to  resist  the 
landing  o^  the  enemy,  general  Porter  repeated  Ms  reply 
to  the  commodore's  demand.  At  8  o'clock  on  the  mom- 
ins  of  the  15th,  the  gun  boats  retired  to  thdr  shiitping, 
af^r  havine  thrown  a  great  quantity  of  rockets,  shells, 
and  round  shot,  without  doing  any  material  injury,  and 
the  fleet  took  its  departure  from  the  yicinity  of  Charlotte. 

In  the  evening  or  the  same  day,  this  force  proceeded 
to  Poultneyville,  a  village  on  the  border  of  the  lake,  and 
d^an4^  the  peaceabra  surrendei;  of  the  public. ttores. 


m 


OV  (ni£  LAT&  WAU. 


i265 


^  ^t  the 

ith  a  f(Mrce 

net  been 

kuraeks, 

m. 

sent  a  flag 
leir  inien* 
b  falls  ibr 
nff  assured 
I  From  that 
by  the  de- 
and  stood 


and  5eun 
iping  .their 
f  the  Gen- 
's, ameuntp 
,  had  been 
roflker.on 
Matched  ex* 
there  early 
flag,  which 
surrender 
ve  refusal, 
men,  then 
e  town  and 
ectj  for  an 
econd  fla^ 
by  a  threat 
y  this  time 
about  350 
off  the  ^n 
iver.  Being 
o  resist  the 
d  his  reply 
i  the  mom- 
r  shiitping. 
Lets,  shells, 
iniury,  and 
'Charlotte, 
proceeded 
i  lake,  and 
licf tores. 


The  inhabitants  wera  incompetent  to  repel  the  invaders, 
and  the  British  commodore  landed  a  party  of  suiors  aw? 
marines,  who  captured  a^uantity  of  daauM^  flour,  wd 
were  committinff  depredat^nt  upon  indivif&d  property, 
when  the  arrival  ot  brigadier  genemd  John  Swin,  Si  the 
New  ¥ork  militia,  with  ISS  volunteers,  put  them  to  a 
precipitate  flight  Their  boats  hastily  pulled  off  to  the 
fleet,  when  a  vigorous  cannonade  commeiieed,  acd  se-^ 
vend  old  houses  were  {^rcsd  by  the  18  and  d4-pottnd 
shot  The  enemy  did  not  attempt  to  re-land,  but  soon 
weighed  anchor,  and  being  jotned  by  other  vessels  of  the 
squaditm,  steered  for  SaeCer^  Harbour. 

Nine  miles  distant  from  the  liarbour  the  fleet  cast  an- 
chor, in  ^iffiirent  pa8hioiM»  on  the  19th,  to  enable  them 
to  cut  off  all  commui^cation  between  H  and  other  places 
on  the  lake.  The  new  ship,  the  Supaior,  a  frigate  of 
uncommcm  beauty  and  dimensions,  had  been  launched 
there  on  the  1st  m  the  month.  Her  equipments,  for  the 
capture  of  which  the  enemy  had  so  vigorously  assaulted 
fort  Oswego,  had  mostly  arrived  by  land  conveyances, 
and  «ir  James  Yeo  being  ignorant  of  this  circumstance, 
and  supposing  the  ASnericana  dependent  entirely  on  their 
free  and  ready  access  to  the  lake,  for  the  possession  of 
these  supplies,  C4>mmenced  the  blockade  of  the  harbour, 
with  &e  sole  view  of  intercepting  them.  Upon  learning, 
as  he  afterwards  did,  that  the  new  ship  was  receiving  her 
armamenit^  and  equipping  with  great  expedition,  he  broke 
up  the  blockade*  and  proceeded  with  his  fleet  to  Kingston. 

Some  cannon  and  ordnance  stores,  intended  for  the 
vessels  of  the  American  fteet,  had,  in  the  mean  time,  ar- 
rived at  Oswego  from  the  interior.  Another  new  ves- 
sel, intended  to  be  called  the  Mchmpk,  was  ^eii  on  the 
stocks,  and,  to  prepare  h^r  for  the  la^e  in  tiie  early  part 
of  June,  these  stores,  as  well  as  those  which  had  peen 
removed  to  Oswego  fitUs*  were  indispensably  nece8ii|ry. 
To  transport  them  by  land  would  i)e  attended  with  diffi- 
culties and  delays,  which  recent  experience  had  taught 
the  America  k  commanders  to  avoid,  and  commodore 
Chauncey,  i*:'^/.!!g  now  an  unobstructed  passage  to  the 
lake,  directed  captain  W  oolsey  to  convey  them  in  a  flo- 
tilla of  barges  (in  which  he  could  ascend  the  small  creeks, 
if  pursued  by  tiie  enemy)  to  Uxeir  point  of  destination. 
To  give  security  to  the  passage  of  the  barges,  brigadier 

Z 


*/ 


i266 


HISTO&ICAL  SKETCHES 


It! 


general  Gaines,  whe  commanded  the  land  forces  at  the 
Harbour*  despatched  major  Appling,  of  the  rifle  regiment, 
with  ISO  officers  and  men,  to  co^>penUe  with  captain 
Woplsey,  in  escorting  the  flotilla.  The  barees,  19  m 
number,  were  i^n  at  the  falls  «f  Oswego,  anaprevious- 
ly  to  their  mevement  to  the  lake,  captain  Woplsey,  had 
caused  a  resort  to  be  circulated  tliat  tiie  naval  stores 
were  to  be  rorwarded  to  the  Oneida  lake.  The  watch- 
ful enemy  had  several  £un4)oats  at  that  tine  hoveling 
about  the  numerous  credos,  which  disduuge  themselves 
into  the  lake  Ontario,  and  examining  every  cove,  by  the 
aid  of  which,  small  baiges  misht  elude  tneir  i^lance. 
On  the  28th  of  May,  captain  Woolsey,  having  previously 
reconnoitred  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  creek,  and  find- 
ing a  <;lear  coast,  brought  his  flotilla  tnrer  the  rajuds,  and 
reached,  the  village  of  Osw^o  at  sunset.  Avadiii^  him- 
self of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  he  put  into  the  lake, 
with  major  Appling  and  his  men,  distributed  in  the  seve- 
ral batteaux.  A  small  party  of  Oneida  bidians  were  des- 
patched to  Big  Salmon  liver  to  meet  the  flotilla  there, 
and  to  proceed  along  the  shore  to  Sandy  creek,  in  whidi 
captain  Woolsey's  orders  obli^d  him  to  make  a  harbenr. 
At  the  dawn  of  the  29th,  after  having  rowed  12  hours 
in  extreme  darkness,  and  under  a  heavy  fall  of  rain,  the 
bi^es  arrived  at  Big  Salmon,  and  were  met  by  the  In- 
uian^,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Hill,  of  the  rille  corps. 
The  flotilla  then  proceeded  on  its  passage,  and  arrived, 
in  the  course  of  me  day,  at  a  point  2  miles  up  Sand/ 
creek.  Thence  a  look-out  boat,  under  lieutenant  Pearce, 
was  despatched  on  the  30th,  to  reconnoitre  between  its 
mouth  and  Stony  Point.  This  boat  was  discovered  by  3 
guii4M)at8,  3  cutters,  and  a  dg,  under  captain  Popham, 
and  diased  into  the  creek.  No  doubt  being  entertained 
that  the  enemy  would  pursue  lieutenant  Pearce  up  the 
creek,  dispositions  wire  immediately  made  by  major  Ap- 
pling^ ana  captain  Woolsey  to  draw  him  into  an  ambus- 
cade. He  veiy  soo.ni  appeared,  and  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M. 
commenced  a  cannonaae  at  lone  shot  At  10,  he  land- 
ed a  party,  and  pushed  his  gun-Doats  and  cutters  up  the 
«reek,  occasionally  firing  into  the  woods  as  he  ascended. 
Mi^or  Appling,  who  had  posted  his  men  in  a  judicious 
jRUHiner  along  ihe  bank,  below  the  poiBt  at  wnicfa  the 
American  Wrges  were  moored— then  suddenly  rose  from 


OV  THB  LATE  IT  AH. 


267 


es  at  the 
regiment, 
1  captain 
res,  19  m 

Sreviotts- 
Bey.  had 
ral  stores 
be  watch- 
i  hoverang 
hemseWes 
fFe,  by  the 
vigilance. 


and 
ipids,  and 
Eiilii^hiim- 
»  the  lake, 
i  the  aeve- 
i  were  des- 
tilla  there, 
:,  in  which 
aharbenr. 
1  12  hours 
f  rain,  the 
by  the  In- 
line corps, 
id  arrived, 
up  Sand/ 
mt  Pearce, 
etween  its 
rered  by  3 
1  Popham, 
ntertained 
ce  up  the 
niaJ.or  Ap- 
an  ambus- 
Qck,  A.  M. 
[),  he  land- 
ers up  the 

ascended. 

judicious 
wnich  the 

rose  from 


his  ctmceahnent,  poured  upon  the  enemy  a  rapid  and  de* 
structiTe  fire,  and  in  10  minutes*  Idtlra  1  midshipman 
and  13  sailorj  and  marines,  wounded  2  lieutenanta  and 
28  saHors  and  marines,  and  took  pifisoners  the  remainder 
of  tlie  party,'cons2sting  of  two  post  captains,  and  4  lieute- 
nants of  the  navy,  2  lieutenants  of  marines,  and  133  meit»' 
The  whole  party  amounted  to  185,  The  gon4M>ats  and 
cutters,  necessarily  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americansi; 
who  lost  but  1  man  t^htly  wounded. 

A  squadron  Of  dragoons,  under  captain  Harris,  and  a 
company  of  light  artiHery,  under  captain  Melvin,  with  2 
field  pieces,  arrived  in  the  neishbourhood  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  but  «d  not  participate  in  it. 
Major  Applii^  was  soon  f^ter  breveted  a  lieutenant  colo^ 
nel,  and  his  officers,  lieutenants  M'Intosh,  Calhoun, 
Macfarland,  Armstrons,  and  Smith,  and  ensign  Austin, 
were  publicly  thanked  by  the  commanding  general  offi- 
cer at  Sacket's  Harbour.  Captain  Woolsey,  and  his  of- 
ficers, lieutenant  Pearce,  sailii^  master  Vauehan,  and 
midshipmen  Mackey,  Hart,  and  Caton,  who  had  been  or- 
dered t»  Oswego  to  superintend  the  transportation  of  the 
cannon  and  stores,  acquitted  themselves  in  a  masterly  and 
courageous  manner. 

The  cannon  were  soon  after  transported  to  ii»  Har- 
bour, and  the  new  frigate  Mohawk  was  launched  on  tiie 
11th  of  June,  and  very  speedily  armed  and  equipped  to 
jmn  the  sciuadron,  which  then  consisted  of  9  vessels,  cai> 
ryins  in  all  about  251  guns. 

The  result  of  this  affair  was  sensibly  felt  throu^out 
the  British  fleet;  it  deprived  them  of  a  number  m  ex- 
perienced seamen ;  and  several  valuable  and  intrepid  offih 
cers,  and  they  were  compelled  to  remain  in  Kingston 
harbour  until  their  places  were  supplied,  and  the  squadron 
enlarged  by  an  immense  nicrr  snip  then  building  there, 
and  intended  to  carry  112  guns.  Commodore  Chauncey 
sailed  round  the  lake  in  the  course  of  the  month,  and  fre- 
quently stationed  himself  hefore  Kingston,  to  draw  out 
the  enemy's  squadron. 

Until  their  new  ship  was  completed,  they  determined, 
however,  to  remain  in  p»rt,  and  in  that  interval,  no  hostile 
event  took  place  upon  lake  Ontario.-*Nor,  indeed,  was 
any  warlike  attitude  assumed  in  its  nei^bouring  lake 
Ene,  or  the  lake  Champlain,  before  the  commencement 


mim 


268 


UI8TOBICAI.  SKETCHES 


' 


•f  the  summer.  From  the  borders  of  the  hitter,  lieute- 
nant cohwel  Forsythe,  of  the  rifle  corps,  on  the  28th  of 
June,  made  an  incursion  into  Canada  as  far  as  Odelltown, 
where  an  afiair  took  place  with  a  detachment  of  the  ene- 
my, from  the  post  of  La  Colle.  The  colonel  made  an  at- 
tack, retreated,  and  attempted  to  draw  the  enemy  into 
an  ambuscade;  but  in  his  zeal,  discovered  himself  and 
his  l^rty  too  soon,  and  an  engagement  took  place  before 
the  British  were  ensnared.  17  of  their  number  were  kill- 
ed; amone  them  the  celebrated  partizan  commander, 
captain  Mahue,  who  was  shot  by  lieutenant  Riley.  Co- 
lonel Fors3rthe,  who  had  heretofore  been  a  terror  to  the 
enemy,  was  woilnded  in  the  neck^  of  which  wound  he 
died  a  few  dap  after,  and  was  buried  with  military  ho- 
nours at  Champlain.  The  command  of  this  corps  was 
then  trahsferrea  to  lieutenant  colonel  Applina;. 

From  Erie,  colonel  Campbell,  of  the  19tn  regiment, 
eiN>ssed  over  the  lake  with  500  men  to  Long  Poin^  where 
he  landed,  and  proceeding  to  the  village  of  Dover,  de- 
stroyed the  flour  mills,  distilleries,  and  all  tiie  hotises  oc- 
cupied by  the  soldiers,  as  well  as  many  others  belonging 
to  tiie  j^aceable  inhabitants  of  the  villaffe.  A  squadron 
of  British  dragobns,  stationed  at  that  mace,  fled  at  the 
approach  of  colonel  Campbell's  detachment,  and  aban- 
doned the  women  and  chiloren,  who  experienced  humane 
treatment  from  the  Americans.  Colonel  Campbell  un- 
dertook this  expedition  without  orders,  and,  as  his  con- 
duct was  generally  reprobated,  a  court  of  inquiry  was  in- 
stituted, to  examine  into  his  proceedings,  of  which  gene- 
ral Scott  was  president.  This  court  declared,  that  the 
destruction  of  the  mills  and  distilleries  was  according  to 
the  usages  of  war,  but  that  in  burning  the  houses  of  the 
inhabitants,  colonel  Campbell  had  ^atly  erred.  This 
error  they  attributed  to  ihe  recollection  of  the  scenes  of 
tlie  Raisin  and  the  Miami,  in  the  western  territories,  to 
the  army'  of  which,  colonel  Campbell  was  at  that  time  at- 
tached, and  of  the  recent  devastation  of  the  Niagara 
frontier. 

During  these  events  of  the  winter  and  sprine  ui  1814, 
the  British  had  collected  in  the  neighbournood  of  the  ri- 
ver Thames,  and  at  the  Delaware  town,  situated  upon 
that  river,  ^a  very  respectable  force  of  regulars,  militia, 
and  Indians ;  and  several  expeditions  were  planned  and 


i«ii 


OF  *HB  lATB  WAB/ 


S69 


ir,  lieute- 
le  28th  of 
delltown, 
r  the  ene- 
tde  an  at- 
lemy  into 
nseff  and 
ice  before 
were  kill- 
nmander, 
ley.  Co- 
or  to  the 
Around  he 
ilitary  ho> 
:orp8  was 


•r-' 


re^ment, 
int,  where 
>over,  de- 
[lotises  oc- 
beloneing 
I  squachron 
led  at  the 
andaban- 
d  humane 
npbell  un- 

his  con- 
y  waa  in- 
iieh  gene- 

that  the 
wording  to 
68  of  the 
ed.    This 

scenes  of 
itories,  to 
kt  time  at- 

Niagara 

of  iai4, 
of  the  ri- 
ited  upon 
8,  militia^ 
^nned  and 


set  on  foot  against  them  by  colonel  Anthony  Butler,  who 
commai^ed  the  American  fortes  in  the  Mlchifftn  terri- 
tory. In  the  month  of  February,  captain  Lee^  who  had 
been  formerly  a  cornet  in  tlie  Biichisan  dragoons,  was 
sent  into  the  vicinity  of  the  enemy,  wimabout  14  mount- 
ed men.  Muaj  miles  in  the  rear  of- the  British  forces, 
he  made  prisoners  of  several  officers,  and  among  them, 
the  fomous  colonel  Baubee,  who  commanded  a  party  of 
Indians,  and  assisted  in  the  depredations  committea  on 
the  New  York  frontier.  Captain  Lee  contiived,  by  his 
judicious  mmagement,  to  bring  them  over  to  Detroit, 
without  detection*  «»i^ 

Upon  their  arrival  there,  c<^onel  Butter  prcjected  an 
enterprise,  under  captain  A.  H.  Holmes,  of  the  94th  regi- 
ment, to  whom  he  asngned  the  command  of  160  rangers 
and  mounted  in  >ntry,  and  despatched  him,  on  the  £lst( 
of  February,  a^iunst  several  oi  the  enemy's  posts.  Onj 
the  3d  of  March,  at  the  distance  of  fifteen  miles  firom  De-  \ 
laware,  captain  Hjimes  received  intelligence  that  tlie  ene- 
my, whose  force  consisted  of  a  company  of  100  men>of 
thie  Royal  Scots,  under  captain  Johnson,  45  of  the  89<h 
re|;iment,  under  captain  Caldwell,  50  of  McGregor's  mi- 
litia, and  the  same  number  of  Indians,  beine  in  all  d46 
men,  had  left  the  village  with  an  intention  of  descendkig 
the  river.  Captain  l&lmes*  party  had  already  su^hNni, 
and  been  reduced  by  hunger  and  fatague,  and  16  of  his 
men,  "^vho  were  unable  to  march  further,  sent  back  to  De*^ 
troit;  with  the  remainder,  he  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to 
give  battle  to  the  enemy>  without  the  advan^ge  of  tiie 
ground,  and,  therefore,  fell  back,  five  miles,  to  a  position 
on  Twenty  Mile  Creek,  leaving  captain  Gill,<witn  a  n^ 
guard  of  20  rangers,  to  follow. 

"  This  guard  was  overtaken  by  the  enemy,  and  after  <||* 
chandng  a  few  shots,  eflfectea  a  retreat  to  tiie  positJoji 
yvHm  captain  Holmes  then  occupied.  At  Twenty  Mile 
Creek,  there  was  a  deep  and  wide  ravine,  bouncied,  dh 
each  side,  by-  a  lofty  heights  On  the  westeiti  height,  cap- 
tain Holmes  had  established  an  encampment,  in  the  form 
rf  a  hollow  square,  the  detachment  from  Detroit  being 
on  the  north  front  of  the  square,  the  rangers  on  thcynest, 
and  tiie  militia  on  the  souths  and  all  protected  t^l6gs, 
hastily  thrown  together.  The  regulars  of  ,the  Q4m  iitid 
S8th  refdments,  were  stationed  on  the  brow  of  the  height, 

Z  2 


270 


HISTOiUCAI.  8KST0UES 


iinooverecL  In  this  gititatioii,  the  Americans  awaited  the 
attack,  and  captain  Holmes,  h^  the  skilful  and  mdicious 
manner  in  which  he  posted  mmself,  compelled  his  supe- 
rior enemy  to  commence  it. 

^  Eariy  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  British  appearing 
in  few  numbers,  on  the  eastern  height,  immediately  oppo- 
site to  the  American  can^p,  gave  a  loose  fire  and  retired; 
Same  time  having  elapsed,  without  their  reappearance, 
captain  Holmea  despatched  lieutenant  Knox  of  trie  rangers, 
to  reconnoitre  them,  who  perfm  med  that  duty  with  ala- 
crity^.and  returned  with  an  account,  that  the  enemy,  whose 
number  he  judged  to  be  not  more  than  70,  had  retreated, 
wi^  such  precipitation,  as  to  leave  his  bagnige  scattered 
on  the  roaa.  This  retreat  was  made  for  3ie  purpose  of 
drawing  the  Americans  from  the  height,  on  which  tne  Bri- 
tish officer  saw  they  were  so  advantageously  posted.  The 
attempt  was  attended  by  a  partial  success,  for  tlie  Ame- 
rican commander,  not  being  well  assured  of  the  strengtii 
of  his  adversary,  descended  from  the  camp,  and  followed 
him  in  his  retreat.  Captain  Lee,  who  commanded  the  ad- 
vance^ m  this  march,  wnich  continued  five  miles,  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  discover  the  enemy  in  full  force,  pre- 
Ofor  a  resolute  attack.  The  pblicy,  which  had  in- 
the  British  officer  to  draw  the  American  from  his 
strong  ground,  judginff  of  it  by  its  result,  was  founded  in 
extreme  weakness*  Having  succeeded  in  seducing  him 
to  a  distance  of  five  miles,  he  supposed  that  captain 
Holmes,  with  an  inferior  detachment  almobt  worn  out 
with  the  hardships  of  a  fourteen  days'  march,  and  the  se- 
vmty  of  the  weather,  would  pause  and  give  battle  to  a 
body  of  fresh  troops  superior  in  numbers  and  in  disci- 
pline. He  therefore  never  attempted  to  improve  the  ad- 
vantage he  had  gained,  by  detaching  a  strong  party  to 
cross  the  ravine,  above  the  road  on  which  the  Americans 
had  marched,  and  to  occupy  the  position  which  they  just 
abandoned.  By  this  act  he  would  have  cut  off  all  com- 
munication in  tke  rear,  and  compelled  captain  Hohnes  to 
disperse  his  party  in  the  wilderness,  or  to  yield  at  discre- 
tion. In  either  of  these  cases,  the  American  detachment 
would  have  been  destroyed. 

Captain  Holmes  feanng,  however,  that  the  enemy  had 
attempted  tiius  to  cut  him  off,  immediately  retreated  to 
the  heights,^  re-established  himself  iii  the  encampment 


or  rTRs  iiArrs  was. 


sri 


aited  the 
mdicious 
his  supe- 

appearing 
Ay  afpo- 
d  retiredi 
pearance, 
e  rangers, 
with  ala- 
ny,  whose 
retreated, 
scattered 
lurpose  of 
htheBri- 
ted.  The 
tlie  Ame- 
i  strength 
[  followed 
edthead- 
),  was  for- 
brce,pre- 
h  had  in- 
i  from  his 
Minded  in 
Hcing  htm 
t  captain 
worn  oat 
id  the  se- 
at^  to  a 
in  disci- 
re  the  ad- 
party  to 
imericans 
they  just 
all  com- 
[olmes  to 
atdiscre- 
tachraent 

lemy  had 
reated  to 
mpmenf, 


and  a  second  time  comjielled  the  British  regulars  ind  Ib^x 
dians  to  attack  him  oh  his  own  ground.  ^^  j 

'-The  rangers  and  many^^e  infantry,  not  knowing  Hie  \ 
wisdom  nor  the  necessity  of  the  measure,  exhibited  great  | 
marks  of  discontent  at  the  retreat,  and  many  of  them  re-  > 
fused  to  fight  the  enemy.   But,  on  his  re-appearance  upon  | 
the  opposite  height,  one  impulse  animatea  the  whole  de- 1 
tachment,  which  resolved  on  repulsing  the  asstUantai^**  \ 
The  British  commander  then  made  a  disposition  to  dii-  ' 
lodge  them,  and  throwing  his  militia,  and  Indians  acroM 
the  ravine,  above  the  road,  he  ordered  them  to  commence 
the  attack  upon  the  north,  south,  and  west  sides  ot  the 
encampment^,  whilst  4ie  charged  down  the  road  from  the 
opposite  heidit,  crossed  the  bridse,  and  rushed  foriotttly 
up  the  hei^t  occupied  by  the  Americans,  on  their  east; 
or  exposed  side,  with  an  intention  of  chaif;ing  the  regu- 
lars.   This  he  did,  under  a  ntUing  fire»  which  did  not 
check  his  advances,  until  witmn  twenty  paces  of  his  ob- 
ject   There  his  fr^nt  section  being  shot  to  pieces,  md 
many  of  those  who  followed  being  wounded;  hb  prine^ 
pal  officers  cut  down,  and  the  fire  of  the  Americans  in- 
creasins  in  vivacitj;  he  abandoned  the  assault  aitoceiher, 
and  took  shelter  m  the  neighbouring  wood,  at  distances 
of  15, 20,  and  SO  paces.    Having  arra/ed  his  forces,  he 
commenced  a  rapid  fire  from  his  cover,  which  was  warm- 
ly returned,  and  increased  on  both  sides.    From  those 
parts  of  the  encampment,  protected  by  the  loss,  the  ran- 
sers  and  militia  fired  with  great  coolness  and  precision. 
The  regulars,  on  the  uncovered  side,  were  directed  to 
kneel,  uuit  they  might  be  partially  concealed  by  the  brow 
of  the  height,  and,  by  these  means,  were  enabled  to  fire 
with  more  deliberation  than  their  assailants. 

After  one  hour's  conflict,  the  British  eave  up  all  hopes 
t>f  dislodging  the  detachment,  and  at  twuight  commenced 
tilieir  retreat  Captain  Holmes  did  not  pursue  them,  be- 
cause they  Trere  stiil  superior  in  numoers,  and  might 
dmw  him  at  night  into  an  ambuscade,  in  a  country  much 
better  known,  to  Ihem  than  to  him;  amd,  because  he  had 
already  sained  a  sufficient  triumph  in  repulsing,  and  de- 
feating the  object  of  an  experienced  foe.  The  American 
loss  amounted  to  six  men  killed  and  wounded.  By  their 
own  official  report,  the  enemy  lost  captain  Johnson,  lieu- 
tenant Orame,  and  1£  men  killed,  and  captain  Besded 


272 


HISTORICAL  8KBTCBG8 


(Bftrdeii»)  lieutenant  Mi)onaId,  and  49  men  wounded, 
making  a  total  of  67'.  The  whole  American  force  in  ac- 
tion wai  150  rank  and  file,  many  of  whom  fought  and 
marched  in  their  atockinff  feet,  and  though  the  weather  is 
extremely  cold  in  that  cnmate,  in  the  month  of  February, 
they  were  not  permitted,  nor  did  they  express  a  wish  to 
trite  a  shoe,  even  from  the  dead.  Captain  Holmes,  soon 
after,  returned 'wi^  his  detachment  to  the  Michigan  terri- 
tory, and  received  the  thanks  of  the  commandant,  and 
the  brevet  rank  of  major  from  his  government  He  spoke 
of  ail  his  officers  in  very  flattering  terms,  but  particularly 
of  lieutenants  Kouns  and  Henry,  and  ensign  Heard  of  the 
28^^  and  lieutenants  Jackson  and  Potter  of  the  24^,  be- 
cause their  good  fortune  placed  them  in  opposition  to  the 
main  stren^  of  the  enemy. 

AfteUt*  this  event,  detachments  were  frequently  sent  out 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  country,  but  for  several  weeks 
returned  without  being  able  to  encounter  any  of  his  tn)ops. 
Thoae  on  the  American  sid :  of  Detroit  nver,  remained, 
therefore,  in  a  dtate  of  perfect  security;  and  the  comman- 
ders of  the  land  and  naval  forces,  employed  the  time  in 
]ir(jectii^r  various  plans,  by  which  to  establish  fortifica- 
tions on  uie  lake  St  Clair ;  to  cut  off  the  communications 
between  Michilimackinac  and  the  Indians;  andto  secure 
i  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory  from  their  incursions. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Assemblage  (^the  left  dwiHon  of  the  army  at  Black  Bock 
and  Bughto^-^Capture  of  Fort  Erie^^meticans  en- 
camp ttt  Street's  Cre^'^kirmish  wi^  the  €nemy*s 
rear  ^uMtd-'-JIffairs ^  pkqmts — BattU  of  Chippewa 
•'^rttish  retreat  to  Tm  Jmk  Creek-^m^riean  army 
encamps  at  ^ueeiutown^-^Death  of  general  Swift-^ 
Movement  upon  Fort  George — C^eneral  Brown  retires 
to  €^i§fpewa  Creek'-^Battle  of  ^Tiagara, 

^  To  retrieve  th6  disastrou*  consequences  of  ^e  last 
northern  eampaien ;  to  regain  (he  jjossession  of  the  posts 
in  Canada,  which  had  been  obtained  by  conquest,  and 


OF  THE  Li^TE  WAR. 


273 


wounded, 
>rce  in  ac- 
bught  and 
weather  is 
I  February, 
;  a  wish  to 
Imes,  soon 
[liean  terri- 
tidant,  and 

He  spoke 
particularly 
eardof  the 
le  94^,  be^ 
ition  to  the 

;ly  sent  out 
rend  weeks 
'  his  troops. 
» remained, 
le  comman- 
the  time  in 
h  fortiiica- 
Aunications 
dto  secure 
rsions. 


WtekSock 

etieans  en- 
he  €nem%*s 
'  Chippewa 
neon  army 
il  Swift"- 
fwn  retires 


of  the  last 
f  the  posts 
quest,  and 


lost  by  the  inefficacy  of  the  means  provided  to  retain 
them;^  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  occupancy  of  the 
American  irarrison  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara;  and  to 
command  9ie  frontiers  on  both  sides  of  that  stream;  va- 
rious plans  had  been  projected,  numerous  dispositions 
made,  and  measures  were  finaliy  adopted  for  their  achieve- 
ment  To  this  end,  eenend  tirown,  now  elevated  tor  the 
rank  of  mi^or  jB^eneral,  was  ordered  to  assemble,  and  or- 
ganize, a  division  of  the  army,  at,  and  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Black  Rock  and  Buffaloes  This  division  consist- 
ed^ of  two  brigades  of  resuiars,  tiie  first  commanded  by 
brigadier  g^nwal  Scott,  formerly  of  the  2d  artillery,  and 
the  second  by  brigadier  general  Ripley,  formerly  of  the 
21st  infantry.  To  these  were  added  a  brigade  of  New 
York  volunteers,  and  a  few  Indians,  under  bru;adiers 
seneral  Porter  and  Swift  During  the  months  or  April, 
May,  and  June  (1814),  ^e  concentration  of  this  force  was 
effected,  and  the  principal  part  of  that  time  employed  in 
its  discipline. 

The  first  step  towards  the  accomplishment  of  the  ob- 
ject \of  the  present  campugn,  was  the  assault  and  capture 
of  fort  Erie,  at  that  time  in  command  of  major  Buck,  and 
garrisoned  by  170  officers  and  men  of  the  ^th  and  100th 
regiments  On  ^  morning  of -the  3d  of  July,  therefore, 
in  obedience  to  general  Brown's  orders,  the  two  brigades 
of  regulars  embarked  for  that  purpose.  General  Scott, 
with  the  first,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery,  under  major 
Hindman,  crossed  to  the  Canada  shore,  about  one  mile 
below  fort  Erie,  and  general  Ripley,  with  the  second, 
about  the  same  distance  above.  The  landing  of  the  se- 
cond brigade  was  attended  with  much  difficulty,  in,  con- 
sequence of  the  impossibility  of  apfHt»achinff  the  shore, 
with  the  gun  boats,  in  which  it  had  embarked.  The  de- 
barkation was,  therefore,  effected  in  two  small  boats, 
capable  of  containing  at  one  time,  not  more  than  50  men. 
Th<^  first  brigade  was  on  the  shore  before  a  gun  was  fired 
by  the  enemy,  who^had  a  picquet  stationed  near  the  place 
of  landing.  From  these  two  points,  on  the  right  and  left, 
the  fort  was  rapidly  approached  by  the  regulars,  whilst  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  had  been  crossed  over  skirted  the 
wood  in  its  rear.  The  garrison,  entirely  unapprised  of 
these  movements,  was  completely  surrounded,  and  gene- 
ral Brown  demanded  the  quiet  surrender  of  the  post 


«74 


HlSTOftlGAIi  81UITCHK8 


A  few  nma  oily  were  fired,  whick  wounded  four  rien  of 
the  25w  regiBient,  under  majer  Jessuip^  of  the  first  bri- 
pnAt,  when  iiia}or  Buck  surrendered  the  fort  to  the  in- 
vading army;  Immediate  possession  was  taken  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  misoners  were  marched  to  the  interior 
of  New  York.  The  passage  of  the  troops  across  the 
channel,  and  the  conveyance  of  the  prisoners  to  the  Ame- 
rican shore,  was  superintended  by  lieutenant  commandant 
Kennedy^  of  the  navy. 

l^lpr  general  Rial],  with  a-cByision  of  the  British  army, 
conatitutra  of  the  best  disciplined,,  and  more  experienced 
European  re^lars,  was  at  this  time  intrenched  at  Chip- 
pewa, and  thither  it  was  determined  the  Americans  should 
proceed,  to  attack  and  rout  him.  Arrangements  were, 
therefore,  made  for  the  security  of  the  fort,  and  the  pro- 
tection #f  the  American  rear,  by  the  estaUishroent  of  a 
small  ^uriaon,  under  lieutenant  M'Donough,  of  the  artil- 
lery, and  the  disposition  of  the  marine  force,  near,  and  in 
front  of  the  fort. 

V  On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  general  Scott  received  or- 
ders to  advancf  with  his  brigade  and  Towson- s  company 
oi  artillery^  uptm  Chippewa.  In  tlie  course  of  the  same 
day,  he  was  followed  by  general  Ripley,  and  the  field  and 
park  artillery,  under  major  Hindman,  and  by  general 
rorter  and  his  volunteers.  On  the  ri^t  bank  of  Street's 
creek,  two  miles  distant  from  the  British  works,  the  army 
was  drawn  up  in  three  lines,  the  first  bri^de  facing 
Streets  creek  and  the  bridge — ^the  second  bneade,  form-  i 
ia^  the  second  line,  and  the  volunteers  the  ^ird.  The 
fuk  of  artillery  was  stationed  on  the  ri^t  of  the  encamp 
ment,  between  the  first  and  second  line,  and  the  lignt 
troops  were  posted,  within  ^e  same  space,  on  the  left. 

In  its  afiproaches  from  fort  Erie,  along  the  Niagara, 
to  this  position,  the  first  brigade  encountered  the  advanced 
corps  of  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  behind  this  creek. 
General  Scott  immediately  ordered  captain  Towson  to  go 
forward  with  his  artillery  and  dislodse  them.  That  gal- 
lant officer,  in  a  few  minutes,  compelled  them  to  tall  back, 
though  not  until  they  had  intrepdly  destroyed  the  bridge, 
over  which  the  advancing  co(umn  would  be  obliged  to 
pass.  • 

About^  tl|e  ^me  at  which  captain  Towson  opened  his 
battery  upon  the  enemy,  captain  Crioker  or  the  9th 


ir  nen  of 
first  bri- 
te  the  in- 
»  of  the 
i  interior 
croas  the 
the  Ame- 
imandant 

dsh  army, 
perienced 
1  at  Chip- 
UBS  should 
iiits  were, 
d  the  pro- 
Rient  of  a 
f  the  artil- 
»r,  and  in 

iceived  or- 

company 
'  the  same 
i  field  and 
J  generai 
»f  Street's 
,  the  army 
de  facing 
ide,  form- ; 
ird.  The 
i  encamp* 

the  light 

he  left 
Niagara, 

advanced 

is  creek. 

rson  to  go 
|That  gai- 

fall  back, 
bridge, 

Obliged  to 

jened  his 
the  9th 


or  THB  I.ATB  WAB. 


vrs 


infantry,  had  been  directed  to  flank  out  to  the  left  of 
the  bri^de,  to  cross  the  stream  above  the  bridge,  aoMl 
to  assail  the  riglit  of  the  enemy's  guard.  This  movement 
was  made  with  so  much  celerity,  that  captain  Cnooker 
reached  the  enemy's  position,  and  was  in  full  pursuit  of 
him,  when  the  brimde  column  arrived  at  the  bndge.  Af^ 
ter  retreating  a  wort  distance,  the  British  commander 
bein^  aware  of  the  impossibility  of  captain  Crooker  re^ 
ceiving  a  reinforcement,  of  sufficient  strength  to  combat 
the  impetuosity  of  well  appointed  cavalry,  until  the  bridge 
should  be  replaced,  ordered  his  draeoons  to  turn  upon, 
and  cut  up  the  detachment.  Under  Sie  eye  of  the  gene- 
ral cdlnmanding  the  brigade,  and  before  the  nioneers  had 
rendered  the  bridge  {>  ssable,  captain  Crooker  was  sur- 
rounded and  charged  upon  by  a  numerous  troop  of  the 
British  19th.  This  brave  detachmeat,  dletermined  to  cut 
throu^  this  superior  force,  fought  their  way  to  a  house 
not  rar  fix»m  tM  place  of  attack,  and  having  gained  it, 
turned,  at  the  order  of  their  commander,  upon  the  nur* 
suing  horsemen,  and  haying  first  struck  terror  into  their 
ranks,  put  them  to  a  flight,  precipitate*  as  their  attack 
had  been  impetuous.  At  this  moment,  captain  Crooker, 
whose  men  mi^t  well  be  exhausted  after  so  vigorous  an 
engagement  was  relieved  from  nil  apprehensioB  of  an- 
other assault  from  a  fre^  body  of  troops,  by  the  arrival  of 
captains  Hull  and  Harrison,  and  lieutenant  Randolph, 
with  a  small  party  of  men  who  had  been  tiastlly  thrown 
across  the  stream  to  his  support  '*In  partizan  war,^  the 
general  of  brigade  observed,  '*  he  had  witnessed  mrthing 
more  gallant  man  the  conduct  of  captain  Croi^er  and  his 
company."  '  ;.« 

At  11  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  encamp- 
ment was  formed  in  tiie  manner  already  described;  and 
early  on  the  mormng  «f  the  5th,  the  enemy  cmnmeaced 
an  attack  in  various  detached  parties  upon  the  picqnet 
guards  surrounding  it  One  of  these  was  comriandea  by 
captain  Treat  of  the  Slst  infantiy,  and  on  its  return  t9 
the  camp,  through  a  meadow  of  hi^  grass,  was  assailed 
by  a  bnsk  discharge  of  musketnr.  One  man  fell,  se- 
verely wounded,  and  the  rear  of  tne  guard  broke  and  re- 
treated. Captain  Treat's  attempts  to  prevent  the  flight  of 
the  left  of  his  di^ahmsiai,  were  mistaken  fi>r  anintentifm 
to  avoid  the    ca^nj ;  and  though  he  was  ordei^  i»  a 


a76 


UISTOBICAL  8KE  ^^CH£8 


nel^bouring  wood»  his  guard  beins  first  collected  in  pur< 
suit  of  the  puiy  that  had  attacked  him,  he  wiw  iimnedi- 
atelj  ai'ter  strqiped  of  his  command  upon<  the  nround  of 
cowardice,  in  retreatine  before  the  enemjr^  and  <»  miscon* 
duc<^  in  abandoning  thQ  wounded  nuin  to  their  mercj. 
This  man  had,  however,  been  brousht  in  by  captain 
Trea<fs  eurders,  jmreviously  to  his  mar<^  in  <|ttest  of  l^e 
demy's  party.  Being  resolved  on  a  participation  in  some 
way  or  oliier  in  the  approaching  battle,  tiie  captain  en- 
tered  as  a  volunteer,  in  the  same  company  wMcn  he  had 
just  before  commanded ;  and  the  senior  officer  of  ^  21st 
riM^ment  directed  him  to  lead  a  platoon  into  ac1»)Bvr— 
TKis  act  was  considered  as  a  manifestation  of  hm  cSurage 
and  patriotism,  and  the  court  martial  before  which  he  was 
tried*  (tismlssed  him  Mrith  an  honourable  acquittal* 
.  The  vivacity  of  these  assaults  upon  the  picquets  gra- 
dually dimimshed  until  mid-day,  after  which  they  were 
revived  with  unabating  vigour.  Creneral<Riall,  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  position  of  the  American  forces,  and 
awajre  of  their  intention  to  attack  him,  determined  upon 
issuing  from  his  intrenchments,  and  by  stiiking  the  nrst 
blow  ro  intimidate,  and  probacy  throw  into  disorder  the 
whole  line  of  the  invading  army.  With  tiiis  view,  he  cross- 
ed the  Chippewa  with  every  species  of  his  force,  threw 
his  right  flffidc,  his  Indians,  and  a  larse  detachment  of  his 
H^t  troops,  into  the  wood,  on  the  kit  of  the  American 
encampment,  and  approached,  gradually,  with  his  main 
body  upon  the  left  bank  of  Street's  creek.  The  move- 
ment in  the  wood  was  discovered  early  enough  to  frus- 
trate the  designs  of  th6  British  commander,*  and  general 
Brown  ordered  eeneral  Porter  to  advance,  with  the  vo- 
lunteers and  Intuans,  from  the  rear  of  the  camp;  to  con- 
ceal himself  from  the  enemy's  view,  by  entering  the 
wood;  to  drive  back  his  l^t  troops  and  Indians;  and,  if 
possible,  to  ^n  the  rear  of  his  scouting  partiek,  and  place 
them  between  his  line,  and  the  division  of  regulars.  As 
general  Porter  moved  from  the  encampment,  the  Ameri- 
can outposts  and  advanced  parties  fell  back,  under  the  fire 
of  the  enemy,  in  order  to  draw  him  upon  the  centre  of 
the  front  line. 

General  Porter  met,  attacked,  and,  after  a  short  but 
severe  contest,  drove  the  enemy's  right  before  him.  His 
route  to  Chippewa  was  intercepted  by  the  whole  British 

'     1       ■ 


OV  THEf  LATE  WAR. 


itf 


m1  in  pur- 
I  immedi- 
mundof 
n  miscon-^ 
sir  mcrcj. 
y  captain 
est  or  l^e 
m  in  Bfwie 
aptain  en- 
cn  he  had 
>niie2l8t 
>  ac1ioD>r— 
kcSarage 
ich  he  waa 
tal. 

squets  gra- 
they  were 
11,  well  ac- 
orces,  and 
lined  upon 
iig  the  nrst 
iserder  the 
7,  he  crogg- 
rce,  threw 
nent  of  his 
American 
I  his  main 
The  move- 
;h  to  fnis- 
id  general 
ith  the  vp- 
p;  to  con- 
tering  the 
is;  and,  if 
,  and  place 
ulars.    As 
the  Ameri- 
ier  the  fire 
B  centre  of 

short  but 

him.  His 

ole  British 


column,  arrayed  in  order  of  battle,  and  agaim^  this  pow-^ 
erfill  foi^ce,  the  volunteers  desperately  maintained  th^ 
ground,  until  they  were  overpowered  by  the  8ap^ri<]Hi^ 
of  discipline  and  numbers. 

As  soon  as  the  firing  became  regular  and  heavy  be- 
tween the  volunteers  and  the  enemy,  general  Browh 
rightly  conjecturing  that  all  the  British  r^lars  Were 
ensaged,  immediately  ordered  general  Scott*s  brigade, 
and  ^owson*s  artillery,  to  advance  and  draw  them  into 
action  on.  the  plains  of  Chippewa.  Greneral  Stott  had  ho 
sooner  crossed  the  bridge  over  Street's  creek,  ttwn  he  eh- 
C3untered  and  gave  battle  tpthe^nemy.  Gaptaih  Tow- 
son  commenced  his  fire  before  the  infantry  li^ttidioiis 
Were  in  battle  array,  and,  upon  their  being  formed,  to6k 
post  on  the  rivier,  witii'S  pieces.  In  frbiit  ftf  the  extreme 
risht,  and  thehce  pkyed  upon  the  British  batteries. 

The  9th  regiment  and  part  of  the  22d,  formihg  the  1st 
battalion  under  major  Leavenworth,  took  position  on  ^e 
right;  the  2d  battalion  (11th  regiment^  wa^  led  to  its  sta- 
tion by  colonel  Campbell,  who,  beeihg  soon  wounded, 
was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  that  r^ment  by  Ina- 
jer  M'Neill.  The  3d  battalion  (^th  re^thient)  was  form- 
ed by  major  Jessup,  on  the  leit,  resting  in  a  wood. — 
From  this  posi^on^  that  officer  was  ordered  to  turn  the 
enemy's  ri^ht  win&  then  ^steadily  advancing  upon  the 
American  line,  '^iilst  this  order  was  in  execution,  and 
Jessup's  battaliou^ngaged  in  an  animated  contest,  with 
the  British  infantry,  1^  detached  captain  Retchum,  with 
his  company,  to  attack  a  superior  detachment,  at  that 
moment  coming  up  to  the  reinforcement  of  ^e  body, 
against  which,  tne  25th  was  en^;aged.  Captain  Ketchum 
flanked  out,  encountered  the  fvesti  det^^chmient,  and  sus- 
tained a  vigorous  and  despeitite  eng^.<vement,  uhtil  the 
battalion  cleared  its  own  front,  and  marched  to  the  ihp- 
port  of  his  company. 

This  fortunate  consummation  of  hiB  ptah,  the  major 
did  not  effect  without  a  violent  struffl^le.  The  British 
gave  him  an  animated  and  destructive  nre;  his  men  were 
falling  around  him  in  numbers  too  great  to  leave  him  any 
hopes  of  victory;  and  he  became,  at  length,  cl(»iely 
pressed,  both  in  ''ank  and  front.  His  regitnent,  never- 
theless, betrayed  not  the  least  disposition  to  falter,  and 
promptly  obeyed  his  order  to  **  support  arms  aiHi  Ad^ 

Aa 


ms 


IIIST'oBICAL  SK£TCH£S 


vanc^*  under  this  tremcndcws  fire,  until  a  position  of 
more  seciwity  was  gained.  From  this,  he  returned^e 
enemyfs  fire,  with  sucK  order  and  rapidity,  that  the  Bn- 
tish  nght  flank  fell  back,  and  the  battalion  was  enabled  to 
come  HP  in  Ume  to  co-opera^  with  captain  Ketchum's 

detachment.  .      '    . .   x-      .l 

The  whole  line  of  the  enemy  began  about  this  time  to 
recoil.  On  the  American  right,  the  battalion  of  maior 
Leavenworth,  was  not  only  engased  with  the  British  in- 
fantiy,  but  frequently  exposed  to,  the  fire  of  the  batteries. 
One  of  his  officers,  captain  Harrison,  had  his  leg  carried 
off  by  a  canaon  ball,  but  so  doubtfiil,  at  that  moment, 
did  he  consider  the  issue  of  the  battle,  that  he  would  not 
suffer  a  man  to  be  taken  from  his  dutYi  to  be^  him  from 
the  field,  and  supported- the  torture  oi  his  wound  vrith  ex- 
treme fpjrtitude,  until  the  action  ceased. 

Major  M^eiil*B  battalion  was  also  engaged,  from  the 
commencement  until  the  close  of  the  action,  and,  toge- 
ther v^tti  major  Leavenworth's,  received  the  enemy  on 
the  open. plain;  of  these,  the  9th  and  22d,  were  panillel 
to  the  attack,  but  the  11th,  had  its  left  thrown  forward, 
so  as  to  a^^l  in  front  and  flank,  at  the  same  time.  Thus 
posted,  majors  Leavenworth  and.  M^eill  resisted  the 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  with  great  giillantr^  and  zeal.  On 
tiiis  end  of  the  line,  the  fire  was  quite  as  incessant  as  on 
the  left,  and  its  effect  not  less  destructive;  but  the 
troops  displayed  an  equal  degree  of  animation. 

After  tne  lapse  of  an  hour,  from  tiie  commencement 
of  the  battle,  captain  Towson,  who  had  maintained  his 
'  position  on  ^e  river,  notwithstanding  one  of  his  pieces 
nad  been  thrown  out  of  action,  having  completely  si- 
lenced the  enemy's  most  powerful  battery,  turned  his  re- 
maining pieces  on  the  infantry,  at  that  moment  advancing 
to  a  charge.    This  accumulation  of  fire;  the  effective  dis- 
charges of  M^eill's  musketry,  peculiarly  destructive 
from  the  obUque  position;  the  steadiness  of^the  two  batta- 
lions; and  the  apparent  issue  of  the  engagement  between 
*  Jessup's  and  the  British  right  mng,  compelled  gfen.  Riall 
to  retire,  until  he  reached  a  sic  ping  eround,  descending  to 
Chippewa.    From  the  point  formea  by  this  ground,  nis 
troops  fled  in  confusion  to  their  intrenchments,  behind 
the  creek,  and  having  regained  their  works,  retarded  the 
approaches^  of  the  conquerors  by  means  of  their  heavy 


OF  THfi  LAl^E  WAU. 


279 


MMition  of 
turned  tiie 
UtheBri- 
enabled  to 
Ketchum's 

his  time  to 
[  of  major 

British  m- 
eWtteries. 
legf  canied 
^t  moment, 

would  not 
rhim  from 
a^  with  ex- 

3,  from  the 
,  and,toge- 
enemy  on 
ere  parallel 
im  forward, 
ime.  Ttius 
esisted  the 
i  teal.  Ctai 
Bsant  as  on 
e;   but  the 

mencement 
ntained  his 
'  his  pieces 
ipletei^  si- 
*ned  his  re- 
advancing 
ective  dis- 
estructive 
two  batta- 
|nt  between 
gfen.R|all 
endinffto 
•und,  nis 
.  behind 
itardedtfae 
eir  heavy 


batteries;  on  which  alone,  they  relied  for  safety,  in  th^ 
eyerit  of  their  being  obliged  to  retir^.  <^  >>* 

"'  About  the  time  ^ey  commenced  theii*  charge,  TM^ti^ 
itindman  had  ordered  forward  captain  Ritchie's  compi^y 
of  artillery,  and  one  piece,  a  Ij^po^inder,  under  lieuten- 
ant Hall.  They  arrived,  in  tune  only  to  participate  in  thd 
close  of  the  action^  but  joined  ca,ptatn  Towson,  in  pursu- 
ing the  enein^,  under  the  fire  df  his  batteries,  until  he 
threw  himself  into  the.  intrenchments. 

Whilst  the  first  bri^de  Was  tlius  callantly  engaged 
with  this  superior  force,  in  which  were  included  the  lOOtli 
regiment,  under  lieutenant  colonel  the  marquis  of  Twee^ 
dale,  and  the  Royal  Scots,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Gor- 
don, general  Ripley,  whose  l^lgade  was  already  formed 
in  line  of  battle,  proposed  to  the  commanding  general,  to 
pass  the.  left  of  the  firstbri^e;  to  turn  m&  enemy's 
r^t;  and  by  taking  a  position  in  his  rear,  prevent  his 
retreat  to  the  Chippewa.  But,  as  the  volunteers  were  at 
that  moment  fallii^  back  from  the  wood,,  on  the  left  of 
the  fields  general  Brown  was  of  opinion  that  an  attack 
would  be  iriade  in  that  quarter,  and  deemed  ^e  pres<snce 
of  general  Ripley's  bri^e,  necessary  to  receive  and  re- 
pel it.  At  the  Tnoraent  of  their  retreat,  however,  he  de- 
termined to  follow  up  the  victory,  by  advancing  against 
their  works  with  all  his  ordnance,  and  directed  general 
Ripley  to  adopt  the  proposition  he  had  made.  But  such 
was  the  p^cipitation  oi  the  retreat,  that  this  movement 
became  unavadii^  and  on  the  report  of  two  reconnoi- 
tring officers,  major  Wood  of  the  engineers,  and  captain 
Austin,  an  aid  to  the  general,  as  to  me  situation  and  se- 
curi<7  of  the  enemy^s  worics,  general  Brown  was  induced 
to  order  all  his  troops  back  to  their  encampment 

This  sanguinary  battie,  resulted,  as  may  well  be  sup- 
posed, in  an  immense  loss  on  both  sides.  That  of  the 
Americans,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  miming,  amounted 
to  328;  sixty  of  whom  were  killed.  Among  the  wound- 
ed, were  colonel  Campbell;  captains  King,  of  the  22d, 
Read,  of  the  25th,  and  Harrison,  of  the  4Sd,  but  doing 
duty  with  the  9th,  lieutenants  Palmer  and  Brimhall,  of 
the  9th,  Barron,  of  the  11th,  and  De  Witt  and  Patchim, 
of  tiie  2dtii.  The  Isss  of  tiie  British,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  was,  according  to  general  Brown's  repoi^t, 
308;  but,  by  lieutenant  general  ])r    ^mood^  retumis, 


2S0 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


ii 


^t^  were  139  killed,  320  wounded,  and  46  mi^inff, 
making  a  total  of  505 ;  so  that  the  number  of  the  wouna- 
e4,3^t^i,  was  nearly  equal  to  the  aggregate  loss  of  the 
Aniencans.  Among  these  were  tiie  marquis  of  l*wee- 
<)a|e,  Ueutenant  colonel  Crordon,  lieutenant  colonel  Dick- 
spn,  cl^)tain  Holland,  aid  de  camp  to  seneral  Riall,  7 
i;fmUins,  17  lieutenants,  and  4  other  subaLtemg. 

The  liveliest  testimonies  of  the  ajpplause  of  the  people, 
and  the  honourable  approbation  of  the  jgovernment,  were 

S'ven  to  generals  Scott  and  Porter.  The  brevet  rank  of 
iutenant  colonel,  was  conferred  upon  maj<Nrs  Jessup, 
lUeaven worth)  and  M'Neill;  and  of  major,  upon  captains 
Towson,  Crooker,  and  Harrison.  But  there  were  other 
g^^t  and  distinguished  officers,  who  shared  in  the 
perils,  and  the  fortunes,  of  that  day.  Among  the  most 
conspicljious  of  these,  were  lieutenants  Worth  and  Watts, 
aids  to  general  Scott;  lieutenant  Smith,  his  m^jor  of  bri- 
gade; major  Wood  of  the  engineers,  who  superint^ded 
me  construction  of  the  wocks  at  fort  Mei^,  during  the 
inemorable  siqge  of  that  garrison;  captain  Harris,  ojthe 
drasoons;  ana  lieutenant  M*Donidd,  of  the  second  bri- 
sade,  who  penetrated  a  wood  pu^  annoyed  the  enemy's 

Intell^|ence  having  been  communicated  to  lieutenant 
general  Drummond,.of  the  defeat.of  major  eeneral  ^aU, 
tiiat  officer,  was  immediately  reinforced  at  Chippewa,  by 
the  8tiior  King's  regiment  from  York;  on  the  arrival  of 
which,  he  disposed  his  troops  in  such  order  as  to  repulse 
an  assault  from  the  Americans.  Geiwral  Brown,  mean- 
while, renudned  at  his  encampment  at  Street's  creek,  and 
on  tiie  8th  of  the  montli,  determined  unon  an  attempt  to 
dislodge  general  Riall.  General  Ripley,  was  for  this 
purpose,  ordered  to  proceed  with  his  bn^e,  to  a  point 
thr<N3  miles  above  the  British  works,  on  the  Chippewa, 
to  open  a  road  of  communication  between  Street's  creek 
and  that  point;  and;  to  construct  a  bridge  over  thje  Chip- 
pewa, for  the  passage  of  tiie  troops.  This  ordier  was 
executed  with  great  secrecy;  and  without  loss  of  time, 
and  the  artillery  was  brought  up  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
to  cover  the  pioneers,  whilst  constructing  the  bridge^-** 
The  enemy  had  no  knowledge  of  ^i»is  movement,  until 
the  brigade  anived  at  the  ci-eek,  and  the  artillery  was 
already  planted  near  its  margin.    General  Riall  was  then 


i#< 


OF  THE  LATE  W AH. 


£81 


le  wound- 
[>8B  of  the 
of  twee- 
me\  Dick- 
1  RaaU,  7 

he  people, 
lent,  were 
it  rank  of 
rs  Jessup, 
1  captains 
ivere  other 
*ed  in  the 
the  nuMrt 
ind  Watts, 
yor  of  bri- 
srint^ded 
durins  the 
rris,  (H  the 
econd  bri> 
le  enemy's 

lieutenant 
leral  RiaU, 
ippewa,  by 
arrival  of 
to  repulse 
wn,  mean- 
creek,  and 
attempt  to 
IB  for  this 
to  a  point 
Chippewa, 
»et'8  creek 
the  Chip- 
order  was 
)8  of  time, 
df  the  day, 
sbridge.r— 
lent,  until 
illery  was 
1  was  then 


informed,  by  his  bul^post,  of  these  operations*  and  haaiily 
forwarded  a  detachment  of  the  royal  artillery,  to  check 
them.  A  cannonade  ensued;  but  such  was  the  efllbet 
produced  by  ^neral  Ripley's  artillery,  that  the  British 
pieces  were  withdraw^ ;  the  bridge  was  soon  after  com- 
pleted, and  general  Blall,  apprehending  an  attack  on  his 
riKbt  flank  and  in  front,  from  tiie  formicbible  arrangem«nts 
which  he  saw  in  preparatiim,  abandoned  his  Ime  of  de- 
fences, and  retreated  oy  the  road  to  Queenstown^  .Gie^e- 
ral  Brown  occupied  the  enemy's  works  that  eyenu^  and 
on  the  foUowine  mominc  (the  9th),  pursued  the  rouifce  to 
Queenstown.  Riall  had,lioweYer,Tetired  to  the  Ten  Mile 
Creek.    .  ■     .-       .     ^    ■    .     .         "-■.^  -  ^■•ir^.^^-^'^i. 

At  Queenstown  the  American  army  was  thai  enciunp^ 
cd,  and  the  commanding  general  held  a  council  of  war, 
for  the  purpose  of  matunne  a  plan  of  future  and  dedsiVe 
operations.  On  the  ISth,  brieidier  general  John  Swift, 
second  in  command  to  genenu  Poi  ier,  and  the  sam^  who 
had  put  the  British  m&rines  to  flight  at  Poultii^ni[ilH 
having  offered  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  pt^ition  at  fori 
George,  was  detached  with  120  volunteer^  to  bbt^  a 
view  of  those  works.  On  his  arrival  within  its  neighbour- 
hood, he  surprised  and  captured  atn  outiijost,  consis^ig  of 
a  corporal  and  five  men;  one  of  these,  after  having  sur- 
rendered to  the  detachment  and  requested  quarters,  availr 
ed  himself  of  an  advantafleous  moment,  treaenerqusly  ^ed 
at>and  shot  the  genenu,  who,  nol^itiifttanding  the  sud- 
denness of  the  attack,  and  tho  severity  of  his  wound,  in- 
stantiy  levelled  his  piece,  and  killed  the  assassin.  ^  The 
alarm  produced  by  this  fire/**-<iu^  up  »  British  patroll- 
ing pai-ty,  of  60  men,  against  whom  general  Swift,  regard- 
less of  the  persuasions  of  his  officers,  to  attend  to  his 
wound,  marched  at  the  head  of  his  detachment,  and  c^f 
menced  an  attack,  which  result^  in  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy's  party.  The  general,  however,  whose  wound  was 
mortal,  fell,  exhausted  by  the  loss  of  blood,  bef|M«  the 
termination  of  the  skirmish.  Iii»  next  officer,  beat  the 
patrolling  pftrty  into  the  fort,  and  returned  to  the  en- 
campment at  Queenstown,  with  the  body  of  his  expin^g 
commander.  General  Swift,  whose  loss  was  sincerely 
deplored  by  the  whole  army,  and  who  had  served  with 
distinguished  reputation  dunng  tiie  war  of  tiic  revolution, 
WTO  interred  wUh  tiie  usual  ceremsonij^anihonw^ 

Aa2         ■"  '    '   '  '■^•■.  '  ' 


^' 


/^ 


e6£ 


HIBTOBI€AI>  SKETCHES 


a  fdhtier.  '  T)w  whoie  Totmiteer  brigade,  to  which  the  m- 
aeral  ifas  attached,  lOUcited  an  opportunity  to  avenge  the 
laQ  of  tieir  brave  olficer^  and  an  opportunity  was  not 
toDf  wasted. 

At  the  consultation,  which  was  held  by  general  Brown, 
aiid  his  prkicipal  officers,  a  plan  of  attack  upon  fort 
George/  was  proposed ;  and,  to  the  prejudice  of  a  proposi- 
lion,  stdMnitted  by  ^eral  Ripley,  of  following  up  ffene- 
ltl^Biall;  of  drimghim  from  «ie  peninsula;  or  of  stnkuig 
iis  severe  a  blow,  as  that  which  he  had  rec^ved  at  Chip- 
pewa, and  thua  totdly  to  annihilate  his  force;  was  adowU 
«d  b^  a  mi^ori^  of  the  council.  In  order  to  ascertain  oie 
possiiiilitj^of  capturing  that  fort,  by  a  coup  de  main,  the 
aoeottd  brujade,  and  tl^  volunteers,  were  directed  to  re- 
connmti^  n,  in  the  most  secret  manner.  Whilst  general 
B»piey  a|>proached  akmg  the  l^iaeuii,  ^erid  Porter,  to 
WAOse  br^jade  was  attached  two  field  pieces,  under  cap- 
tain Bltehie,  of  the^reeular  artillery,  advi^ced  by  the  way 
of  St  David's  and  ^e  Cross  Boads,  to  lake  Ontario, 
#faeace  he  oculd  ^Maki  a  full  view  of  fort  Niagara,  and 
«nable  the  principal  engineer,  major  Wood,  to  examine 
the  works  on  that  «de  of  fort  George.  After  viewing  the 
northern  face  of  fort  Niagara,  eeneral  Porter  moved  in, 
upon  fort  George,  drove  in  all  uie  enemy's  picquets,  and 
formed  his  brinde  in  the  open  plain,  within  a  mile  of  die 
fori.  To  eni^e  the  ei^^seer  to  examine  the  works  widi 
more  certucity,  he  ordmd  lieutenant  colonel  WUcocks 
to  advance  wi^  his  command,  under  cover  of  a  small 
wood,  widiin  musket  ahot  of  the^rrison.  These  positions 
were  maintained  upwards  of  anliour  and  a  half,  during 
-which  time  the  British  batteries  opened  upon  the  troops 
on  th6  plain.  Several  detached  parties,  sent  out  to  attack 
the  volunteer  li^t  troops,  were  successively  repulsed,  and 
the  ofageet  of  the  eiq[>eai^n  beuig  accomplished,  general 
Porter  moved  round  the  south  side  of  the  fort,  andjoined 
eeneral  -Ripley^  bri^e  oil  the  Niagara.  As  he  retired, 
me  etiemy  sent  out  several  pieces  of  field  artillery,  and 
commenced  a  nqlid  five  upon  his  rear.  The  brigade,  how- 
ever, moved  tff,  in  ^ood  order,  with  two  men  wounded? 
and  lieutenant  #ontame,  of  the  artillery,  and  an  ofRcer  of 
the  volunteei^^iad  then*  horses  killed  under  them,  by  a 
cannon  balL^  1^  his  approaches  to  the  lake,  general  Porter 
deem«d  it  neeessai^^Q  station  iTtcf^li^  upon  the  several 


OF  THE  LATE  WAS. 


m»& 


roads  leading  to  the  fort  Five  of  these  were  cafituivd 
by  a  partjr  of  90  Canadian  mililia,  residing  in  the  neigh- 
bottrhood^  and  some  of  whom  had  been  in  the  American 
encampment,  professing  tp  avail  themselves  of  the  term* 
of  general  Brown's  proclamation,. issued  upon  entering 
Canada,  ^that  all  persons  demeaning  themiwlvfs  peacea- 
**  Uv,  and  pursuing  ^eir  private  business,  should  be  treat- 
**  ea  as  friends.** 

To  give  more  certainty  and  effect  to  the  assault  of  forts 
George  and  Niagara,  and  to  the  occupation  of  Queens- 
town,  St  David's,  and  Newark,  general  9rown,  previous- 
ly to  fais  pMsage  of  the  Niagara  strait,  had  adopted  mea^ 
sures,  in  conjunction  with  commodore  Chauncey*  for  die 
co-operation  of  the  American  squadroil.  Oh  the  20th  of 
July,  he,  therefore,  niioved  with  his  whole  force  upon  fort 
Geoive,  and  took  a  position,  wilh  a  portion  of  h»  troops, 
on  lale  Ontario,  as  well  with  a  view  to  attempt  that  ga^ 
risen,  as  to  obtain  some  intelligence  of  the  fleet  Commo*> 
dore's  Chauncey'ft  extreme  illness,  prcnrentdl  the  smling 
of  the  fleet  from  the  harbour,  and  general  Bnmn,  xmtt^ 
hensive  of  an  attack  upon  the  rear  of  his  iMtny,  and  of 
his  tommunication  wim  the  encampment  being  cut  off], 
by  the  militia  then  raising  en  masse,  fell  back  to  Queens^ 
town,  on  the.  QSd,  to  protect  Ins  baggage.  Having  thefe 
received  intelligence  of  the  detention  of  the  fleet,lie  de- 
termined to  disencumber  the  axmj  of  ite  heavy  ba^asej,  . 
and  to  march  asauist  Burlington '  Heights;  4)n  the  pemn.^ 
aula,  between  wliich  h  hd  Ene  ikt  enemy  had  in  thiEf  mean 
time,  concentrated  his  principal  forces.  To  dmw  from 
Schlosser,  a  supply  of  provisions,  necesssry  to  diis  etpa^ 
dition,  he  retired  on  Ihe  d4th,  to  the  junction  of  the  Chip- 
pewa and  Niagara:  with  the  exceppon  of  the  9th  r^a» 
ment,  the  army  encamped  on  the  nght  bank  of  tiie  Chip- 
pewa. That  regiment  was  posted  on  the  nordi  side  of  tnf 
stream,  in  and  near  a  block  house,  in  the  advance. 

Lieutenant  general  Drummond,  anxious  to  redeem  the 
tarnished  reputation  of  the  British  arms,  aiid  having  now 
augmented  his  force,  so  as  to  feel  capable  c^  offering  bat^ 
tie,  witiiottt  any  doiibt  of  its  succesnul  resiilt,  forwarded 
a  ^vision,  ftnder  general  ^iall,  to  l^eenstown,  who  oc- 
cupied the  heij^ts  there,  immediately  after  their  abao^ 
donment  by  the  Americans.  From  Queenstowh,  general 
lUall  threw  a  large  detachment  of  his  troo{fe,  across  the 


w^ 


mmmm>'!mm 


I' 


.684 


HISTOmCAL  SKETCHES 


Ntagura,  to  Lewistown,  with  a  view  to  the  capture  of  the 
Aitt«ican  sick  and  wpunded^  at  that  time  in  the  hosptital 
at  Schlosser,  and  the  destniction  of  the  bamge,  ammu- 
aition,  and  provisionst  deposited  at  thatpwse.  By  ex- 
presses from  colonel  Switt,  commanding  at  Lewistown, 
general  Brown  was  informed  of  this  movement,  and  al- 
most at  the  same  moment,  a  prcquet,  stationed  beyond 
the  9th  recent,  reported  an  advanced  party  of  the  ene- 
my on  the  J^iagara  road.  To  draw  him  from  nis  purposed 
piila^  of  Schlosser,  oeneral  Brown,  having  no  immediate 
ineans  of  bringing  uifnis  sick  and  stores,  nor  of  transport- 
ing troops  to  their  defence j  ordered  general  Scott  to 
move,  with  his  bruade,  then  consisting  m  about  700  men, 
and  Towson's  artuiefy»  still  attached  to  it,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Queenstown.  f     -'■* ; 

,    At  4  O^clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  (July),  the 
first  brigade  moved  finom  the  encampment  in  l^ht  march- 
tnjrordilr,  the  9th  regiment  b  ii^  in  front  of  the  column, 
and  oaptdn  Harris,  with  a  troop  of  regular  and  v(dunteer 
drttoons,  and  a  company  of  ,infantnr»  under  capkin  P^nt- 
land,  of  die  22d,  constituting  an  adfvanced  corps.    About 
ifcwo  miles  and  a  half  frt)m  the  Chippewa,  uid  mthin  a 
short  distance  of  ike  falls  of  Niagara,  Ihe  American  and 
British  advanced  parties  came  wimin  view  of  each  other, 
and  general  Scott  halted  his  column,  to  reconnoitre  the 
ground,  and  make  arran^mehts  for  the  reception,  or  at* 
tack,  of  the  enemy.    Lieutemint  colonel  Leavenworth, 
with  the  9th,  consisling  then  of  only  150  men,- was  imn^e^ 
dJat^ly  ordered  to  take  the  left  of  the  rtoad,  within. sup- 
porting distance  of  the  column,  which,  on  the  exeaiiion 
of  this  order,  again  moved,  forward,  the  enemy  retiring 
before  it.  On  an  eminence,  near  Lundy's  lane,  at  a  pmnt, 
chosen  by  major  general  Rhdl,  because  of  the  decid^  ad- 
vantage of  the  ground,  the  enemy  was  ^posted  in^  mat 
strength,  with  a  formichible  battery  of  nine  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, two  of  which  were  braAS  24  plunders,  and  an  ex- 
tensive and  heavy  line  of  intkntry.    This  position  was 
extremely  favourable  to  the  operatkcns  uf  the  oattery,  A»d 
there  the  British  general  haa  long  wished  to  engage  the 
troops,  who  had  compelled  him  to  retire  from  every  otber, 
«i  wnich  batt^  had  been  previously  given  them. 
'^  On  the  arrival  of  general  Scotfs  column  at  a  narrow 
strip  of  wodds,  by  ^ch  only  the  British  line  was  ob- 


are  of  the 


le 

1^,  ainintt- 
i.  By  ex- 
lewistown, 
it,  and  al- 
sd  beyoiid 
>f  the  ene- 
)  purposed 
immediate 
transikort- 
1  Scott  to 
1 700  men, 
I  the  direc- 

(July),  the 
ght  march- 
be  column, 
i  vcdunteer 
[riain  Pfent- 
pg.    About 
id  within  a 
lerican  and 
each  o^er, 
nnoitre  the 
tion,  or  at* 
fkvenworth, 
was  inm^e'* 
ritiiin.sup- 
execution 
ny  retiring 
at  a  point, 
ecided  ad- 
1  in^  great 
ices  0?  ar- 
ind  an  ex- 
)«ition  was 
ittery.and 
sngag|ethe 
irery  other, 

a  narrow 
le  was  ob* 


•F  TUS  LATB  W^B. 


9S9 


scured  from  his  view,  c^tptains  Harris  and  Pentland.  were 
first  fired  on,  and  asallantly  engpged  the  enemy's  advance* 
which  had  gradually  retreat^  to  draw  the  Ameriam 
column  to  the  situation  at  Lundv's  lane.  The  hrkiMle 
column^was  again  inunediatelj  halted,  lieutenant  coloiiei 
Leavenworth  ordered  to  his  situation,  and  tieutenant  co- 
lonel Jessup,  with  the  25th,  deta^Jied  to  attack  the  left 
of  ^  British  Une.  The  9th,  11th,  and  SSd,  passed  the 
advanced  corps,  and  moviqe  to  the  north  of  the  wood, 
entered  a  smooth  field,  in  lull  view  of  the  enemy,  and 
within  canister  distance  of  his  battery.  The  rear  of  the 
column  hiivin^  cleared  the  woodjgeneral  Scptt  ordered 
the  line  to  be  instantly  formed,  l^his  order  was  not  exe- 
cuted before  the  British  opened  a^  tremendous  ^e  frdm 
their  battery,  and  the  whole  line  pf  their  infantiy  drawn 
up  on  its  right,  and  obliquely  inits  front.  Towson,  with 
his  artillery,  was  stationed  on  the  right  of  the  9th,  and 
though  they  could  not  be  brought  to  &ar  upon  the  emi- 
nence, he  animated  the  American,  line,  by  an  incessant 
dischar^  from  all  his  pieces. 
Thus  drawn  up  on  both  sides,  the  action  continued,  with 


reguneRt 

ing  expanded  their  ammunition,  colonel  Brady  and  lieup 
tenant  <;olonel  M'Neill,  being  both  severely  wounded,  and 
all  the  captains  of  the  former,  and  most  of  the  officers  of 
the  latter,  either  killed  or  wounded,  both  regiments  were 
withdrawn  from  action,  and  many  of  the  officers,  but  prin- 
cipally subalterns,  attached  themselves  to  the  9th,  and 
fiNight  under  its  gallant  chief,  in  various  camicities,  and 
with  unusual  courage  and  perseverance.  Among  these 
were  Heutenant  Crawford,  and  lieutenant  and  adjutant 
Sawyer.  Against  the  chief  part  of  the  British  line,  lieu- 
tenant colonel  LeavenwoHh^  with  the  remabs  of  the  9th 
alone,  continued  the  engagement  with  unshaken  firmness 
and  bravery;  and  wa^  at  fensth,  directed  to  advence  and 
charse^  upon  the  heig^  and  with  the  11th  and  9£d,  to 
break  the  enemy's  line.  Notwithstanding,  these  three  re- 
giments were  greatly  diminished  by  the  excessive  loss  of 
officers  and  men,  they  nevertheless  steadily  advanced,  with 
supported  arms,  until  general  Scott,  learning  the  shattered 
condition  of  the  11th  and  22d,  coiyitermaiSliid  the  order. 


Sft6 


HIBTOBICAIi  SKETCHES 


The  enemy  was  at  this  moment  pressiiu;  upon  the  left 
of  the  line;  &e  right  of  the  9th,  was  therefore  thrown  for- 
ward to  meet  and  repulse  him,  and  the  whole  regiment, 
commenced  a  fire  more  animating,  if  pMsible,  mit  cer- 
tainly more  destructive  than  the  first.  It  is  scarcely  pos- 
nfiile  to  do  justice  to  the  conduct  of  this  gallant  regiment, 
or  of  its  intrepid  commander.  It  had  already  given  such 
signal  instances  of  individual  valour,  as  were  never  sur- 
passed upon  an  open  field.  But  valour  alone,  is  not  com- 
petent to  resist  the  repeated  assaults,  of  a  numerous  and 
increasing  foe ;  and  against  a  prodigious  inequality  of  num- 
bers, it  is  sometimes  little  less  than  madness  to  contend. 
The  9th  regiment,  was  at  lei^^  reduced  to  nearly  half 
the  number  With  which  it  had  entered  the  field,  and  neing 
still  pressed  by  the  enemy,  who  frequently  chai^d  with  a 
fresh  line*  lieutenant  cidonel  Leaven  worm  despatched  an 
of^cei^  to  general  Scott,  to  communicate  its  conaition.  The 
l^neral  faiving  been  just  informed  of  the  approach  of  re- 
inforcements from  Chippewa,  rode  immediately  to  the 
position  of  tiiat  regiment,  and  directed  it  to  maintain  its 
ground. 

That  indefatigable  and  excellent  reconnoitring  officer, 
lieutenant  Riddfe,  of  tiie  15th  infantry,  had  been^  sent  out 
in  the  menung,.  with- a  party  of  lOOinen,  to  «cottr  the 
surrounding  cmintry.  He  had  not  proceeded  more  than 
three  miles  fi*om  the  encampment,  when,  in  attempting  to 
gain  the  rear  of  a  scout  of  the  enemy,  he  was  informed 
By  several  of  the  inhalntants,  of  his  being  close  upcm  a 
division  of  3000  of  the  !ftitish  troops.  At  the  time  of  his 
leaving  the  camp,  general  Brown  had  not  been  apprised 
of  the  contiguity  of  the  enemy,  and  lieutenant  Kiddle, 
therefore,  hastened  back  with  all  possible  speed,  to  com- 
municate the  intel^ence.  The  nature  of  ^e  ground, 
over  which  he  had  fo  retrace  his  steps,  and  the  extreme 
caution  with  which  it  was  necessary  to  proceed,  to  avoid 
reconnmtring  ''etachmoits  of  the  enemy,  lengdiened  his 
distance,  from  the  head  quarters,  upwards  of  five  miles. 
He  had  not  arrived  at  the  possition  of  the  Americans  at 
Chippewl^  when  he  was  iq^piised  of  the  meeting  of  the 
hostile  armies*  by  the  repeated  and  heavy  discharges  of 
artillery.  Naturally  concluding  that  general  Brown's 
whole  lorce  had  proceeded  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  not 
hesitating  a  ||oment,  as  to  the  course  he  sh<mld  pursue. 


on  the  left 
hrown  for- 
!  regiment, 
e,  btttcer- 
arcelj  pos- 
t  regiment, 
ghren  such 
never  sur- 
is  notcom- 
nerouB  and 
jtyofnum- 
to  contend, 
nearly  half 
;  and  Deing 
rged  with  a 
patched  an 
dition.  The 
t>ach  of  re- 
tely  to  the 
namtain  its 

ring  officer, 
en^  sent  out 
)  «cour  the 
more  than 
tempting  to 
8  informed 
oae  np<m  a 
time  of  his 
in  apprised 
mt  Riddle, 
id,  to  corn- 
he  ground, 
le  extreme 

d,  to  avoid 
Evened  his 
five  miles, 
lencans  at 
tins  of  tiie 

hirgesof 
Brown's 

e,  and  not 
Id  pursue. 


OV  THE  LATB  WAS. 


3«7 


he  wheeled  his  detachment  upon  the  Niagara  road,  and 
immediatelv  marched  to  a  participation  m  the  engage- 
ment Thu  detachment  was  the  nrst  reinforcing  party 
wliich  arrived  to  the  relief  of  the  first  brigade,  aim  gene* 
ral  Scott  stationed  it  on  his  extreme  left,  with  directions 
to  lieutenant  Biddle,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  British 
riflemen  and  Indians. 

By  the  same  circumstance,  the  report  of  the  artillery, 
general  Brown  was  also  first  informed  of  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  and  of  its  scene,  and  having  directed 
general  Ripley  to  follow  with  the  2d  brigade,  was  already 
on  his  way  to  the  falls,  when  he  met  the  assistant  adjutant 
senend,  nuyor  Jones,  returningto  the  encampment  at 
nill  speed  for  reinfercem^ts.  The  intelligence  commu- 
nis Ated  by  miyor  Jones,  induced  the  commander  in  chief 
to  despatch  him,  io  order  up  general  Porter's  volunteers, 
in  addition  to  the  2d  brigaae,  and  the  park  of  artillery. 
General  Brown  then  rode  hastily,  with  his  aids,  accom^ 

Sanied  by  major  M^Ree,  of  the  engineers,  towards  the 
eld  of  tiatile,  and  on  his  further  advance,  was  met  by  a 
second  messenger,  major  Wood>  ilso  of  the  engineers, 
and  who  had  marched  with  general  Scott's  br%ade.  From 
this  ^dlant  ai^  accomplislied  officer,  he  received  a  report 
of  the  close  and  sanguinary  character  of  the  action,  and 
directed  lum  to  return  with  him  to  the  field. 

Exhausted  and  reduced  as  the  9th,  11th,  and  22d  r^- 
ments  already  were^  another  vigorous  (mset  froni  the  ene- 
my, sttfficienuy  numerous  to  interpose  occasionally  a  firesh 
Une,  might  probably  decide  the  fate  of  the  day,  before  the 
arrival  of  the  ap]Nroaching  reinforcements.  The  determined 
and  obstinate  manner,  however,  in  which  they  had  already 
received,  and  repulsed,  the  gallant  and  repeated  chan^ 
of  the  British  infantry,  induced  major  ^neral  Rlalfto 
overrate  their  force.  But,  to  whatever  measure  of  strraigth 
these  intrepid  re^ments  amounted,  he  knew  also,  that  the 
number  of  hb  combatants  would  be  augmented  from  the 
camp  at  Chippewa,  and  being  assiued  of  the  necessity,  in 
that  event,  of  enlai^^ng  his  own  force,  he  despatched  mes- 
senji^rs  to  lieutenant  general  Drummond,  at  fort  George, 
to  inform  him  of  the  desperate  nature  df  the  xonflitt^-* 
Until  tids  period  of  the  engagement,  his  force,  including 
the  incorporated  militia  and  «ome  Indians,  amounted  t^ 


88S 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


iGSf  men,  beiiu;  more  than  double  the  strength  by  which 
he  was  opposecC 

Major  general  Brown  arrived  at  the  scene  of  this  obsti- 
nate strugrlie,  aboiit  the  time  at  which  general  Scott  or- 
dered the^th  regiment  to  maintain  its  ground,  and  seeing 
the  exhausted  state  of  the  troops,  and  the  shattered  con- 
dition of  the  brigade,  determined  on  holding  it  in  reserve, 
whUst  the  reinforcing  troops  should  continue  the  engage- 
ment The  9th,  11th,  and  22d  regiments,  were  therefore 
consolidated  into  one  battalion,  under  colonel  Biady,  who, 
tiiough  wounded,  refused  to  quit  the  field,  until  the  result 
of  the  engagement  should  b«  known.  General  Ripley's 
brigade,  major  Hindman's  artillery,  and  seneral  Pbrter's 
voranteers,  all  of  whom  had  marcned  wim  unusual  rapi- 
clity.  Over  a  difficult  road,  were*  now  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  Lundy's  lane.  General  Ripley  being  in  the 
advance,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  the  held,  immediately 
despatched  his  aid  de  camp,  lieutenant  M'DOhiald,  of  the 
19tn  infantry,  to  inform  ^neral  Brown  Of  his  approach, 
and  to  receive  instructions  as  to  the  situation  of  trie  ene- 
my, akid  orders,  as  to  the  dbposition  of  his  brigade. 

Immediately  before  the  arrival  of  general  Riptey,  a 
temporary  pause  j|>reyailed  between  the  two  armies;  an 
awfiil  and  (but  for  tlie  groans  of  the  wounded  soldiers,) 
an  unbroken  silehce  was  preserved  aniong  the  troops  on 
either  side;  the  impetuous  descent  of  the  stupendous  ca- 
taract of  the  Nia^ura,  alone  interiTipted  th^  pervading 
stillneiBs,  and  contributed  to  the  solemnity  and  grandeur 
of  the  scene:  and  the  leadei^  of  both  forces,  havine  fallen 
baek  to  their  original  positions,  seemed  mutuallv  disposed 
to  a  momentary  cessation  of  the  sanguin!ary  and  fatting 
strife.  The  krnval  Of  these  reinforcements,  under  generu 
Ripley,  and  of  others,  under  lieutenant  general  Drum- 
mond,  put  an  end  to  this  suspension  of  hostilities,  and 
the  en^igement  was  renewed  with  augmented  vi^ur. 

Major  nihdman's  artillery  being  brought  up,  tiie 'com- 
panies Of  captains  Biddle  and  Ritchie,  in  addition  to  Tow- 
son's  detachment,  soon  ckme  into  action,  and  general 
Porter's  vobinteers  w'ere  displayed  upoln  the  left  of  gene- 
ral Scottfs  brigade.  Lieutenant  Ml>onald,  who  had  been 
dei^tched  for  orders,  having  met  captain  Spencer,  one 
of  the  aids  of  the  <ommander  in  chief,  bearing  ordeiis  for 


OF  Tin  LATB  WAK. 


,  by  which 

this  obsti- 
l  Scott  Gr- 
ind seeing 
tered  con- 
in  reserve, 
le  engage- 
5  therefore 
Irady,  who, 
the  result 
ml  Ripley's 
■al  Porter's 
usual  rapi- 
L  short  dis- 
ing  in  the 
nmediately 
aid,  of  the 
s  apprbach, 
of  the  ene- 
gade. 

r  Ripley,  a 
armies;  an 
A  soldiers,) 
>  troops  on 
tendcus  ca- 
pcrvading 
d  grandeur 
ivinK  fallen 
y  msposed 
d  fotigning 
er  genend 
ral  Drum- 
ilities,  and 
vigour. 
»,  the'com- 
on  to  Tow- 
nd  general 
ft  of  gelie^ 
0  hadl>een 
encer,  one 
orders  for 


the  3d  brigade  to  form  on  the  skirti  of  the  wood  to  Ifie 
ri^t  of  the  1st,  immediately  retnmed  to  general  Bipiey 
with  these  directions. 

Meanwhile,  the  S5th  regiment  nhder  lieutenant  coknel 
Jessup,  which  had  been  oi^ered,  in  the  earlr  part  of  th^ 
action  to  take  post  on  the  right^  had  gallantly  contended 
a||ainit,  and  succeeded  in  turning  the  eneniVs  left  flank. 
Lieutenant  colonel  Jessup,  availing  himself  of  the  e:.  tfeme 
darkness  of  the  nigh^  and  of  the  incaution  of  the  British 
ceneral  in  not  placinin  '^  proper  guard  across  a  r^ad  upon 
his  left,  threw  his  regiment  is  thu  rear  of  the  enemy's  re^ 
serve,  and  surprising  or  "^  detachment  after  another,  made 
prisoners  of  so  many  ot  their  officers  and  nuvn,  that  the 
operations  of  his  fire  anus  were  constantly  impeded.  Ge- 
neral Dntmlnoiid,  who  was  now  commanding  in  person 
the  front  line  ofthe  enemy;  having  dcterminedon  concen- 
trating his  whole  force,  and  leading  it  to  the  attack  of  |eil. 
Scottf^  brigade  in  frotit  and  on  each  flank,  and  despaicli- 
ed  his  aid  S&  camp,  captain  Lorinff,  to  bring  up  genend 
Rai^l  with  the  reserve  It  was  the  good  ieirtime,  how- 
ever, of  ca^^taii^  Ketchum,  of  this  rerimetot»  whose  emi- 
nent services  mtatly  contributed  to  lie  victorious  iseue 
of  the  battle  at  Chippewa,  to  make  jprisoners  of  major  ge- 
neral Riall,  who  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  the  aid  of 
lieutenant  j;eneral  Dmmmond  before  the  reserte  wat 
put  in  motion. 

Had  this  ooncentration  of  seneral  Riall's  line  with  that 
of  general  Drummond  been  elected,  th^e  reduced  brigade, 
cjEMOsposed  now,  only  of  the  consolidated  battalion,  could 
not  at  this  moment,  and  without  the  support  of  the  9d  bri- 
gade, have  withstood  the  assault  of  so  overwhelmiXig  # 
force;  and  the  movemeiait  of  lieutenant  colonel  flegnup, 
therefore  unquestionably  eaved  that  battalion.  Having 
hastilv  adopted  proper  arrangements  for  the  dispopal  elf 
his  prisoners,  lieutemmt  colonel' Jessup  felt  his  way  to  the 
spoVwheretiie  wanhest  fire  was  kept  up  upon  tlie  bri-* 
g^e  to  which  he  belonged.  Easiwardly  of  Lundy^  lane; 
and  on  the  south  of  the  Queenstown  roid,  he  drew  up  hi$ 
regiment  behind  a  fence«  from  which  he  ceuld  effectual- 
ly annoy  the  enemy.  A  party  of  the  British  infiintry 
were,  at  that  time;  drawn  Up  in  front  of  a  fence,  on  tlie 
opposite  side  of  the  same  road^  Lieutenant  cdonel  Jes- 
«up's  approach  to  his  present  position,  had  been  made 

Bb 


£90 


MKM:09II|3AL  8KSTCH£9 


with  80  much  secrecy*  that  they  did  no^  know  he  was 
there,  unj^  tnej  received  a  deadly  and  destructive  fire, 
which  compelled  them  to  break  and  fly  along  the  Queens* 
to^n  rqad.  By  the  Uazie>  pf  this  fire,  lieutenant  colonel 
Jessup'Was  discovered  to  major  ^enecal  Brown,  who  rode 
up,  appla^ed  his  conduct,  and  directed  him  to  move 
by  Lundj's  luiie,  and  form  upon  the  rig^t  of  the  2d  bri- 
gade. 

The  (^rations  of  that  brigade  were  all  this  time  ear- 
tied  on  with  the  utmost  biriluancy  and  success^  When 
his  aid  de  camp  communicated  the  order  of  the  cfmiman- 
der  in  chief,  general  Ripley  saw  the  in^racticaMjity  of 
operating  upon  the  enemy,  from  the  posiuon  at  which  he 
wras  directed  to  display  his  column;  or  of  advancing  from 
ii^  in  line,  upon  an  emergency,  trough  aldose  wood. 
At  the  same  ntoment  too,  general  Drummond's  infantry 
and  all  hi  artillery,  had  commenced  a  galling  fire  upon 
general  Scqitt's  brigade,  which  could  only  he  supptMrted 
by  a  dir^t  movement  of  the  2d  b^^gade  upon  the  centre 
of  tiie  enemy's  line.  The  impenetrable  darkness  of  the 
night,  rendf^rcu  it  difficult  for  the  generals  of  brigade,  at 
all  times,  to  find  the  commander  in  chief,  or  each.otiier, 
and  general  Ripley,  therefore,  deteimined  to  assume  a 
responsiiMlity,  by  adopting  in  time,  the  only  movement 
which  could  save  the  1st  brigade  from  inevitable  destruc- 
tion, and  ultimately  achieve  the  victory. 

He  therefore  proposed  to  colonel  Miller,  the  same  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  the  earliest  stage  of  the  war, 
s^tMaguaga,  and  who  now  commanded  the  21st,orHip- 
iey^s  old  regiment,  to  storm  the  enemy's  battery  with 
that,  whilst  he  would  support  him  by  leading  up  the  23d, 
a  younger  and  less  experienced  re»ment,  to  a  charge 
upon  the  British  flank.  Colonel  Miller,  well  knowing 
the  perilous  nature  of  this  desperate  duty,  replied  to  his 
general,  **  PU  try,  sir,^*  and  immediately  put  his  regi- 
ment in  readiness  by  forming  it  in  line,  on  the  left  of  the 
road,  directly  in  front  of  his  otuect  The  23d  was,  pt  the 
same  time,  formed  in  close  column,  by  its  commander, 
major  M^arUmd,  and  the  first  which  had  arrived  that 
day  under  lieutenant  colonel  Nicholas,  from  a  long  and 

*  'Words  afterwards  worn  on  the  buttons  of  the  aist  regiment.. 


Oy  THS  XATB  WAB. 


^91 


iow  he  yras 
ructWe  fire, 
the  Queene- 
lant  colonel 
rn,who  rode 
iin  to  move 
'  theSdbri' 

is  time  car- 
essr    When 
I  >.  commaQ- 
cticability  of 
at  which  he 
dancing  from 
'close  wood. 
id*8  infantry 
ing  fire  cipon 
te  supported 
nthe  centre 
rkn^s  of  the 
Df  bri^de»  at 
T  each, other, 
to  a^uDie  a 
J  movement 
Bible  destruc- 

le  same  who 
of  the  war, 
[21  st,  or  Rip- 
lattery  with 
up  the  S3d, 
to  achaiiH;e 
rell  knowing 
bplied  to  his 
^ut  his  regi- 
le  left  of  tne 
d  was,  pt  the 
|coihmander, 
rrived  that 
a  long  and 

[st  regiment. . 


fiitigaing  march,  was  dire^^  ed  to  memce  the  enemy%  in- 
fantry. WhiUit  these  dispo^tiwis  were  makhig»  gjeneral 
Ripley  despatched  hi»  aid  to  apprise  general  Brown  of  die 
impossibilify  of  forming  on  the  sMrt  of  the  wood,  and  of 
the  measures  which  he  had,  in  consequence,  adof^ted. 
The  commander  in  chief  hkj^ly  cwnmended  the  iles^pn 
of  tiie  brieadier  general,  and^instantly  authoiised  its  exe- 
cution. With  hearts  panting  for  the  accomplishment  of 
this  enterprise,  these  re^ments  moved  forward,  under  a 
rapid  and  destructive  fire  directed  aeiinst  them,  at  their 
very  onset,  by  the  enemy's  whole  Hne  of  musketry,  and 
every  piece  oi  his  cannon.  The  21st,  nevertheless, 
prmnptiy  pressed  forward;  the  23d  faltered.  .It  was, 
nowever,  instan^lv  rallied  by  the  pergonal  exertions  of 
general  Ripley,  who  led  it  up  to  the  contemplated  charge. 
At  a  distance  of  little  more  than  100  yards  from  the  top 
of  die  emmence/on  which  die  Biilish  cannon  were  posted, 
and  which  these  r^ihents  were  necessarily,  ohliged  to  as> 
ceiled,  they  received  another,  and  equall;jr  as  severe  a  dis- 
chaige  fh^m  the  musketry  and  heavy  pieces.  The  Slst 
was  now,  however,  too  much  enamoured  of  its  ob|ect,4 
and  tiie  23d  too  obstinately  determine^  on  retiievinff  its 
fame,  to  betray  the  smallest  disposition,  t»  recoil  worn 
the  near  consummation  of  their  bdd  and  hazardous  enter- 
prise. By  this  fire  majdr  M'Farland,^of  the  23d,  was 
Killed,  ana  the  command  of  that  re^ment  devolved  upon 
mijor  Brooke,  an  officer  of  no  less  mtr<r*.pidity  and  valour. 
The  description  of  a  more  Mlliant,  am  decisive  move- 
ment, may  never  have  been  registered  ou  the  page  of 
history.  To  the  amazement  of  the  whok  British  line, 
colonel  Miller,  steadily  and  silently  advancing  up  the 
eminence,  until  vnthin  a  few  ipaces  of  tltie  eiiemy*s  casnon 
impetuously  charged  upon  the  artillerists,  and  aflhar  a 
short  but  .desperate  contest,  carried  the  whole  battery, 
and  instantly  formed  Ins  line  in  its  rear,  upon  the  aame 
ground  on  wnich  the  British  infantry  had  been  previously 
pesi^.  in  carrying  the  heaviest  pieces,  the  2tst  re^- 
ment  experienced  severe  losses,  several  officers  of  dis- 
^nguished  bravery  and  jnerit,  being  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Lieutenant  €iUej,  who  commanded  an  ad- 
vanced company  of  that  re^mcAit,  by  a  resolute  and  un- 
examined efwrt,<;arried  one  of  the  cutis,  &nC  fell  wound- 
ed by  its  side  immediately  after.    He  had  advanced  upon 


^92 


Hiari^OBICAIk  SKETCHES 


¥1  :n 


Lt  with  such  rapidity,  as  to  bayonet  the  men  sta^oned 
at  it  before  they  had  time  to  escape  t\nA  cut  down  witii 
his  own  hand*  an  artUleris^  who  was  apptying  a  match  to 
the  iHece«  In  the  same  charge,  lieutenant  Bigelowwas 
kill^  and  caption  Burbank,  and  ensupis  Jones  and  Tho- 
niasy  and  lieutenant  Fisk  of  the  19th,  and  ensign  Camp 
of  the  second  rifle,  both  attached  to  the  2l8t,  were 
wounded. 

The  advance  of  the  23d,  ..upon  the  British  infantry 
suppor^ng  the  canmm,  being  as  proir.pt  as  that  of  the 
2iMt  both  raiments  pierced  Uie  enemy's  line  at  the  same 
instant  Mayor  Brooke,  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  ge- 
neral Ripley,  led  his  battalion,  under  the  eye  of  hia  com- 
mander, into  tlie  very  ranks  of  the, enemy,  and  putting 
them  to  a  hasty  and  lusorderly  retreat,  marched  up  to  the 
relief  of  colonel  Miller,  who,  though  he  had  formed  his 
line  .in  the  rear  of  the  captured  batt^,had  not  ^et  driven 
the  enemy  below  the  emmence,  and  ^'^  at  this  moment 
closely  pressed,  almost  at  its  summit.  By  the  junction 
of  these  two  re^ments,  however,  and  the  bringing  into 
line  of  the  first,  the  fate  of  this  assault  was  determined, 
the  British  infantry  and  artillerists  retired  beyond  the 
reach  of  musketry,  and  tiieir  oVvn  cannon  were  turned 
against  tiiem. 

The  features  of  the  action  now  began  to  assume  a  new 
character.  The  Heights  from  which  the  enemy  had  been 
thus  gal  limtl^dUloGged,  being  a  very  commanding  posi- 
tion, the  nMiintenance  of  them,  would  alone  determine 
the  issue  of  the  conflict,  and  general  Ripley  immediately 
formed  his  line  for.  the  protection  of  tiie  newly  acquir^ 
battery,  and  prepared  to  receive  the  assii^ults  which  he 
ri^itly  coiiyectured  would  be  made  for  its  recovery.-— 
When  tliQ  capture  of  ipneral  Rtall  was  announced,  be- 
fore the  dislod&ment  of  the  British  frrnn  tiie  eminence, 
tiie  eKtion  of  the  first  brigade  was  manirested  by  three 
loud  hn^zas,  which  brou^t  a  shell  from  tlie  enemy  that 
tell  iri  major  Hindman's  corps,  and  exploded  a  cauim  of 
anraaunitiim,  beloi^nff  to  the  company  of  the  brave  and 
lamented  captain  Ritoue,  who.  being  mortally  woiinded 
in  t^ie  course  of  the  engagement)  fMl  into  the  hands  of 
the  British.  Major  HiiMiman  w«a  now  directed  to  bring 
up  his  corps,  including  Towson's  detachment*  and  post 
hunself,  with  his  own  and  the  captured  cannon,'  on  the 


OTVaaJLATT.  WAB.'^ 


£93 


dowawltii 
ft  match  to 
l^elow  was 
sand  Tho- 
^ign  Camp 
Slat,  were 

ih  infiintry 
faat  pf  the 
it  the  same 
Hrder  of  ge- 
of  hift  cjcmo- 
ind  jmtting 
»d  up  to  the 
formed  his 
:^et  driven 
lis  moment 
le  junction 
imnns  into 
lefemined, 
>eyoiid  the 
ere  turned 

ume  a  new 
yhad  been 
riding  posi- 

determme 
nmediately 
f  ac(}uired 
\  which  he 
ecovery.— 
>unced,  be* 

eminence, 
by  three 

nemy  that 

I  COMOIt  of 

brave  and 
wounded 

:  hands  of 

d  to  bring 
and  post 

n/on  the 


right  of  geneial  Riplev*bbri|^r  Mid  between  it  and  the 
S5thi  OD'  the  left  of  we  aeeOnd  ^c%ade^  general  lorter^ 
volunteers  were  then  rawed. 

The  Kae  'being  tiitlsvMnnedi  at  /the  exmration  of  a 
short  interval,  Heu^enaiit  genenU  ^Drummond,  ineensed 
beyond  meacBure  at  the  ci^re  of  hU  artillery,  resolved 
on  regaimng  it,  «nd  Nan^  strongly  reiitforcMl,  advanced 
upon  {Eeneral  Riploy,  vnth  a  h^vy  and  extended  ^ne, 
outflanking  him  on  Mlh  extremes.  In  anticipation  of  hie 
approach,  which  could  only  be  diseovered  by  the  seond 
attoidinr  it,  eeneral  Ripley  had  diisected  his  troops,  to 
reseirve  meir  fire,  until  tney  had  received  that  of  the  «&• 
iailants,  imd»  if  necessiyr^,  to  feel  the  bayoni^,  before 
they  should  draeharge  their  ^eces,  with  the:  double  mt^ 
of  drawinr  the  advamang  line  within  close  strikiiq^  dis- 
tance, anifof  mailing  his  own  fireniore  deadly  and  efloc- 
tive,  by  giving  it  a  curection  by  the  flashes  of  the  ettetmy*s 
mu^etryi. 

On  the  other  hand,  lieutenatit  general  Drummond,  thus 
resolutely  determined  oh  the  recoverv  of  his  cannon, 
gave  a  peE^n|»tory  order  to  all  his  platoon  officeis,  to 
advance  steaddy,  and  wi^out  any  regard  to  the  fire  of 
j&e  American  Hne;  and^  afier  attaining  a  given  distance, 
to  make  a  prompt  and  vigorous  charge,  and,  if  piDsriUe,  to 
■Ml  directly  upon  the  cannon.   His  whole  division,  diere- 
J»re,  marched  at  a  quick  step,  until  it  camewiUiin  20 
paces  of  the  summit  of  the  he^t,  when  the  several  refit- 
ments received  orders  to  poor  in  a  nl|rid  fire,  upon  me 
American  line,  and  to  follow  it  with  the  immeduite  ap- 
peal to  the  bayonet.    This  fire  was  no  sooner  delivered, 
than  the  second  brigade,  the  volunteers,  and  lieutenant 
■colonel  Jessup^s  regiment,  instantiEmeously  returned  it, 
and  threw  the  enemy's  line  into  a  momentary  confusiom 
But,  being  immediately  rallied,  it  returned  to  a  conflict 
more  tremendous,  than  any  which  had  been  witnessed  in 
the  day^  battle.    Upwards  of  twenty  minutes,  one  blaze 
of  fire  succeeded  another,  in  each  line;  sections,  compa- 
nies, and  rranmentSk  mutually  fell  back,  and  were  suc- 
cessively rallied,  and  again  brought  into  action;  but,  at 
length,  the  British  line  was  forced  back,  jind  the  doub^ul 
contest  terminated  in  their  retiring  to  the  lower  extremity 
of  the  hilk 

Bb  2 


■Pi 


^H 


inannmMAL  skstcbss 


>;ft  ivts  nttt  to  be  gi|nMMe^  however*  thftt  tin  enemy, 
the  giti&lest  |NPOp(BrtMV  cf  #hooe  troops  had  been  aocus- 
tomed  to  desperate  feats  of  ynknr,  and  had  ^ncomitered 
the  meat  otpetieiioiA  battaiiono  of  Buropeai^  armies,  had 
yet  eonsentea  to  viefd,  to  an  army  bat  lately  made  op  <»f 
the  ittWiMt  niilenalSk  nvhat  in  that  event  woald  be  tonsil 
dered  the  tvophies  of  a  victory.  Measures  were,  accord- 
ingly, instantly  adopted  by  genefa^  Riple3r>  to  remove  his 
woitiHled*  and  restore  his  line  tor  proper  order.  3  ^ 

Whilst  this  splendid  repulse  was  given  to  the  assaidit 
of  the  enemyi  general  Scottfs  consolidated  battalion,  which 
h|Hi  been  until  this  time,  held  in  reserve,  wais  drawn  np 
in  the  rear  of  the  second  brisad^  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Leavenworth*  colonel  Brad^  wounds  having  reiidered 
him  unit  for  active  duty.  General  Scott's  brigade  nub- 
joTrliMonaiSt  Smith,  and  his  aid,  captain  Worai,  beii^, 
at  thisjit^iie,  bodi  severely  wounded,  ne  selected  an  am 
from  thil  0th  regiment,  and  forming  tiie  battalion  into  co- 
lunm,  marched  it  across  the  field,  siid  displayed  it  on  a 
narrow  lane,  paralliel  with,  and  to  tiie  south  of  Lnndv'S 
lane.  From  ^is  position  he  despatched  lieutenant  colo* 
nel  Lieavenwor^  to  seek  the  commander  in  chief,  and  to 
receive  his  orders  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  battaliob. 
General  Brown  being  conducted  to  its  position  by  tiie  co- 
lonel, a  short  conversation  followed  between  tiie  two  p»* 
nerals,'the  result  of  which  was  the  immediate'  movement 
of  general  Scot^s  command  into  Lundy*!^  lane,  where  it 
was  to  be  formed  with  its  right  towards  the  Niagara  road, 
and  its  left  in  the  rear  of  the  captured  battery. 

Having  ^ven  a  new  arrangement  to  his  troops,  gene- 
ral Drummond,  after  a  lapsO  of  half  an  hour,  was  dis- 
covered to  be  adin&nc^g  to  a  second  charge.  He  was  re- 
cei^^  with  undiminished>  firmness,  and  general  Blpley^ 
ov#sr  to  retain  the  fire  being  repeated,  the  whole  British 
me  dischar^  its  musketry,  from  the  same  point  at 
which  it  had .  previottsly  paused.  The  light  which  was 
thence  emitted,  enabled!  me  Americans  to  fire  with  the 
Utmost  precision,  and  to  check  the  enemy^  nearer  ad- 
vance, tlie  repeated  discharges  of  mijor  Hindman^ 
artillery,  which  was  served  witii  uncommon  skill  and  re- 
gularity, were  severely  felt  by  the  advancing  line,  and 
^  offitcers  attached  to  it  behaved  with  coolness  and  gal- 


OV  TBS  UlTB  Witt. 


Z^5 


M  enemy, 
Mbaocufi- 
tcoimtered 
rmieSy  bad 
Bade  ap^ 
i  be  eonM* 
re,  accord* 
remove  his 

tbeaasanlt 
ilioB,  which 
B  drawn  vp 
Ant  colonel 
g  retidered 
irigade  ma* 
brai,  beinr, 
ted  an  am 
ion  into  co- 
tjed  it  on  a 
of  Lnnd^'b 
benant  coio* 
hief^and  to 
e  ^ttaliob. 
d  by  tiie  co- 
tbe.two  f^ 
i  movement 
e,  where  it 
iagafaroad, 

• 

ttops,  gene- 
ir,  was  dis- 
He  was  re- 
id  Bipk^'s 
lole  British 
le  point  at 
which  was 
e  widi  the 
nearer  ad- 
Hindman's 
ill  and  re- 
line,  and 
|s8  and  gal- 


Ikntry.  'Hie  iltaation  on  t^  top  of  the  eminence,  ^re 
many  and  decided  advantages  to  ceneral  Rapley*s  con^ 
mand;  scanty  a  lAiot  waslred;  iniich  failed  or  hitting 
its  object,  whilst  the  ftre  of  the  British,  being  |nore  ete^ 
vated,  generally  went  over  the  headH  of  the  Ainericailft. 
Oenend  Ripiey,being  of  a  tall  Btatnre,and  moontnl  with- 
in eight  pa^s  of  the  rear  of  his  lii;®,  was  by  this  circiuiio 
stance  oimstantly  exp<i^ed  to  the  enemy^  balls.  His  horse 
was  wounded  nnder  him,  and  his  hat  twice  perforated  in 
the  cioiirse  of  the  second  attack.  After  the  first  discl^irae, 
in  tilts  eflfort  to  n^in  his  battehr,  the  British  general,  de- 
termining to  break  the  ceihtre  of  the  American  line^  com^ 
posed  of  the  2tst  r^ment,  and  detachments  of  the  17tii 
and  |9th,  levelled  his  fire  at  tiiat  point  With  tiie  excep- 
tion of  a  few  platdons,  the  dlst;  however,  remained  nn^ 
shaken.  These  bein^  immediately  rallied  by  general  Ripi- 
ley,  the  contest  contmiled  with  great  viiacit^.  nntU  the 
enemy,  finding  he  could  not  make  ano6ier  im|^ression  on 
the  American,  and  feeling  hni  own  line  recoiling^  again 
flyback  to  the  bottom  ef  the  eminence. 

Immediately  after  the  commencement  of  this  second 
coiltest;  the  f'^iiains  of  the  first  brigade  were  also  broii^t 
into  action.  At  tiie  time  of  the  second  discharge,  me 
two  Ihies  being  neariy  narallelj  and  enveloped  in  a  blasK^ 
of  fire,  geneiiarScott,  who  had  approached  the  top  of  tfie 
em^nce,  €6  astertain  their  sitita^on^  now  rode  hastily 
back  to  his  bri^e,  demanded*  in  an  imimated  voice,  of 
colonel  Leavenworthf  "twi  these  troops  prepared  for  ike 
charge?"  ttod,  without  wailMig  for  a  remy,  ordei^d  them 
into  dose  cidumn,  their  left  in  front,  ana  to  njbve  forward 
and  chai^.  This  order  beuiff  executed  almost  as  soon 
as  it  was  ^ven,  the  general  led  up  the  column,  an4.  pass- 
ing between  the  pieces  of  artillery,  advanced  upon  the 
enemy's  left. 

The  gallantry  of  general  Scott* s  troops,  however,  CQuld 
not  prevail  agamst  a  double  line  of  infantry,  by  which  iht 
British  flank  was  supported,  and  triis  diaive  being  met 
witii  unexpected  ftrmness,  the  consolidated  Imttalion  fell 
back,  and  passed  to  the  extreme  left  of  cenerat  Pin  ter^ 
volunteers,  ^o  were  all  this  time  warmly  engaged  with 
the  enemy.  Lieutenant  colonel  Leavenworth  was  then 
ordered  to  re-form  the  column,  and  to  change  its  fron^ 
whi<;;h  being  done,  general  Scott  led  it  to  a  second  charge) 


m 


tk-^. 


-k' 


^m 


IllSf  OmCAL  SKETCHfeS 


and  made  a,  resolate  attempt;  to  turn  the  enemy's  right. 
iThia  flank  being  also  protect;ed  by  a  doable  line,  the  at- 
tem|it  was  not  more  successful  than  the  former ;  and  the 
battiffion'tuaun  fallink  back,  was  ordened  to  form  on  the 
left  of  tile  line,  whtnt  the  general  passed  tothe  ri^tand 
joining  lieutenant  colonel  Jessbp's  rwiment,  liad^i^shoul- 
derfractunsd  by  a.  musket  ball,  and  almost  at  the«ame 
instant,  receivea  a  serere  wound  jn  the  side,  which  com- 
pelled blfli  to  leave  die  field ;  iiot,  howeVer,  without  hav- 
ing first  returned  to^  lietftenant  colonel  Leavenworth, 
wboiR  he  ordered:  tbmove^  to  the  right  of  the  line,  and 
consolidate  lus  battalion  with  the  25^  regiment,  the  com- 
mander of  which  was  dso  severely  wounded.  General 
ScoiJt  had  hithfesrto  escaoed  the  fire  of  ^e  enemy,  inth  sin- 

SlargM  fortune;  he  nad  been  constantly, and  probably 
)' often,  in  the  m<^  exposed  situations ;  he  led  his 
trbope  in  persdnr  to  the  separate  charges,  and  tiever  shrunk 
from  ady  part  of  the  engagement^  however  desperate  or 
daqgerood.  He  was  now  conveyed  to  the  encampment  at 
Chippewa,  whente  hewas  soon  after  removed  to  the  Ame- 
jdcan  side  of  the  Niagara. 

Having  thus  fidled  in  two  i^i^vrdtts  and  determined  ef- 
Irtts  Cor  the  rc^covery  of  his  j^es,  the  Britiih  general 
k^^Ui  to  despair  of  any  better  success  fnnn  a  third ;  but 
the  fortunate  arrival  of  another  reinforcinflr;party'from 
fortCll^eoege^  now  protected  by  four  ^  the  %ntish  fiieet, 
reanintating  his  tnHtps,  he  put  them  in  readiness  for  ano- 
ther charge^  by  forming  a  fi^fesh  Ikie  with  the  new  detach- 
ment, l^^airds  of  hfuf  an  hour  having  elapsed  since  his 
aecond  repfltse,  it  was  considered  very  doubtfol  by  the 
ilUnericans,  whethijr  their  abilil^  to  maintain  theii^  ground 
would  be  put  to  another  trial.  Excessively  fatigued  by 
the  violence  of  the  last  struggle^  their  canteens  being 
exhausted,  and  no  water  (an  article  now  almost  as  in- 
dispensable as  ammunition,)  at  hand  to  replenish  them, 
it  would  be  wondered  at,  if  they  had  either  courted  or 
desirp '  ajvnewal  of  the  contest  But  tiiey  were  deter- 
mine 0  lose  no  part  of  the  reputation,  which  they  had 
that'L  t  acquired,  and  if  the  cannon  were  again  to  be 
defender*,  tiiey  would  be  defended  with  equal  vigour 
and  animation.  Their  doubts  were  very  soon  removed, 
by  the  approach,  in  a  more  extended  line,  of  tiie  whole 
body  of  the  British  troops,  who,  independently  of  their 


enemy's  right 
Ae  line,  the  at- 
rmer;  and  the 
o  form  on  the 
rtheri^tand 
fliad^^^shottl- 
st  at  the«ame 
Ic,  which  com- 
•,  without  hav- 
Leavenwortb, 
if  tiie^MS,  and 
ment^  the  com- 
ided.    General 
nemy.ii4th  sin- 
y/aim  probablj 
L8  ;  iie  led  his 
idnevershrunk 
tr  d^erate  or 
cncampmiint  at 
red  to  tile  Ame- 

idetermined  ef- 

Bri^  general 

m  a  thira;  but 

inat  ijarty  from 

e  British  fl<eet, 

dineks  for  ano- 

le  nev^  detaeh- 

apsed  since  his 

oubtiitl  by  tlie 

in  theii^  ground 

^ly  failed  by 

canteens  being 

'  al^iost  as  in- 

eplenish  them, 

ler  courted  or 

sy  were  deter- 

mich  they  had 

ire  again  to  be 

I  equal  vigour 

soon  removed, 

,  of  the  whole 

lently  of  their 


(- 


6W  THE  LATE  VAB. 


m 


remforcements,  had  the  advantage  of  being  amply  re- 
freshed, frpm  the  plentiful  resources  at  Queenstdwn  and 
St  David's.  ^ 

The  advance  of  the  enemy  was  no  sooner  made  known 
to  general  Ripley's  line,  than  the  ardjomr  of  all  hismen  in^ 
^tantly  revivedi  and  remeijnberkfg  the  order  of  their  gallant 
commander,  to  reserve  their  fire,  they  prepared  to  receive 
that  of  the?  approaching  line. 

The  British  delivered  their  fire  nearly  witbui  th^  ^aine 
distance  as  before,  but  they  tlid  not  &11  back  from  the 
fire  of  the  Americans' with  the  same  precipitation.^— Their 
fresh  line  steadily  advanced,  and  repeated  its  discharge; 
the  Americans  remained  firm,  and  returned  it;  and  an  ob- 
stinate and  tremendous  conflict  followed.  l^eSlst  again 
manifested  its  determined  character,  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  colonel  Miller,  deiUt  out  a  destructive  fire  upon 
its  assailants.  The^ri^t  and  left  repeatedly  fell  back,  but 
were  as  often  rallied,  and  brought  into  the  hne,  to  preserve 
which,  die  exertions  of  the  eeneral,  and  colonels  Miller, 
Nicholas,  and  Jessup,  and  all  the  other  officers,  wei«  con- 
stantljr  required.  On  the  other  haml,  the  fresh  troops  of 
the  British,  were  as  unshaken  aa  their  antampist,  the  21st; 
but  the  regiments  and  sections,  which  hadl>e^n  before  re- 

Eulsed,  recoiled  again,  and  were  repeatedly  urged  forward 
y  their  officerst  At  lei^eth,  the  two  lines  were  oh  ^e  very 
summit  of  the  hill,  each  at  the  point  of  the  l)ayonets  of  ms 
other,  and  both  appealing  to  that  wea{}ony  with  unusual 
foixe  and  rapidity.  Such  was  the  obstinacy  of  the  con- 
tendins  parties,  that  many  battalions  loh  both  sides  were 
forced  Dack,  by  the  vigour  of  the  comoat,  and  the  British 
and  American  lines  became  mingled  with  each  >otiier.  At 
that  part  of  the  height,  on  which  the  catnon  were  station- 
ed, tlie  battle  was  most  desperate.  The  enemj  having 
forced  himself  into  the  very  midst  of  major  Hmdman'a 
artillery,  two  pieces  of  which  the  officers  of  that  corps 
were  coinpellea  to  spike,  he  waa  wanaly,  en|»ged  across 
the  carriages  and  guns ;  and  the  slaughter  whioi  took  place 
upon  the  eminence,  Sufficiently  evinced  his  determination 
to  resapture,  and  the  resolution  of  the  American  artilleristB 
to  retain,  the  trophies  which  the  g^lantry  of  the  infantry 
had  won. 

llie  close  and  personal  contests  now  prevailing  from 
one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other,  produced  a  degree  of 

1 


trnirn 


W^ 


^» 


HI9T0EICAL  SKBTCldSg 


confusioli,  wMch  the  coolness  aiid  energy  of  the  giKeral' 
could  scarcely  {(uppress:  The  broken  sections  were  at 
len^,  however^  restored  to  the  line»  and,  having  regfiined 
their  several  po8itioiis»  compelled  the  enemy's  light  tnd 
lef^  wings  to  fall  Inek.  The  centre  of  his  line  imitatinff 
the^  example  of  the  flanks^  also  save' way,  and  the  aasaim 
upon  the'airfillery,  after  a  dveadral  conflict,  bein^  at  Ihb 
moment  repulsed,  the  whole  British  line  fled  precipitately 
a  third  tiitte.  The  personal  ilmd  most  active  exertions  of 
their  prShdpid  officera,  could  not  retard  the  flif^t  of  the 
troops,  and  they  retreated  beyond  the  reach  ei^r  of  mus- 
ketry or  cannon.  General  Drummmid,  seeing  that  the 
repuise^f  this  last  and  most  determined  efibrt,  l»d  wearied 
and  depressed  his  4ine,  and  feeling  assured  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  lead  them  On  to  anotner  attempt,  which,  too, 
in  all  probability,  would  be  followed  by  a  more  disastrous 
discomfiture,  conseiited  to  relitaqui^  nis  cannon,  and  re- 
tired beyond  the  borders  of  the  field,  over  which  were 
strewed  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  armies. 

At  tibe  cf»nm»icement  of  the  last  chat^  major  gene- 
ral Brown,  wlyie  attending  to  the  formation  of  lieutenant 
cotonel  Leavenworth's  battalion,  was  severely  wowided 
by  a  musket  ball  in  the  right  thigh.  A  little  while  after, 
he  received  a  second  wound  on  the  left  side,  and  b^ing 
compelled  to  quit  the  field,  retired  also  to  ^  Chmpewa, 
and  devolved  the  command  on  ^neral  Ripley.  Though 
the  British  had  been  forced  to  ihthdraw  from  the  action, 
i^^^t  officer,  not  knowing  whether  ^ey  had  yet  yielded 
'^^e  victory,  or  whether  they  contempkted  the  adoption 
of  measures,  by  which  ^till  to  retrieve  the  honour  of  their 
arms,  re-formed  his  line,  and  held  it  in  readiness  to  re- 
ceive an  attack,  in  whatever  manner  it  should  be  made. 
Convinced  of  the~  necessity  of  the  removal  of  the  captur- 
ed cannon,  and  of  the  immense  loss  winGh  would  thence 
he  prevented,  general  Rtpl6y  had  frequently  despatcKed 
his  aid  to  general  Brown,  for  the  means  of  tninsporting 
thern^  from  the  field.  No  means,  were,  however,  at  hand, 
most  of  the  horses  beniffalready  killed,  and  tiie  remain- 
der necessary  to  draw  off  the  American  pieces.  General 
Rl{dey,  therefore,  at  the  close  of  the  engagement,  order- 
ed general  Porter  to  detach  a  party  of  his  volunteelhs  to 
assist  in  their  removal.-— But,  tne  British  guns  being  un- 
Hmbered,  and  in «  dismantled  condition,  itwasfbimdto 


\.>j^ 


Y? 


•..?» 


p 


le  general 
s  were  at 
;r«gfikied 
right  imd 
iinitatiiis 
heaasauH 
ine  ftt  thb 
ecipitately 
lertidns  of 
g)it  of  the 
lerof  inu»- 
^  that  the 
ad  wearied 
it  it  would 
which,  too, 
disastrous 
on,  and  re- 
vhich  were 

• 

najor^ne- 
lieutenant 
J  wounded 
vhile  after, 
and  b^ing 
Chippewa, 
Though 
the  action, 
et  yielded 
e  adoption 
ur  of  their 
iness  to  re- 
be  made, 
the  captur- 
ald  thence 
lespfttcHed 
mifiporting 
ir,  at  hand, 
he  remain- 
.    OefMiral 
Int,  or4er- 
lUl^ei^  to 
being  un- 
is  fbuad  to 


^  Tun  LATB  WAB. 


4 

b^  impracticable  to  ilraw  them  away,  but  by  mcsms  of 
dragiropes,  none  ^rwhich  were  at  thi(t  time  en  the  grottiid* 
Relttc^t^as  were  all4he  troopa^if  the  line  to  abanm  the 
tiipphils,  which  h^  been  ^ined  by  the,  resiatlets  vaUMir  of 
the  2d  bi^igiule,  to  diiBcuUie8»  now  found  tobe  insunnount^ 
able^  they  were  jpbliged  to  yield. 

It  was  at  this  -moment,  while  in  conversatHii  with  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Leavenwort'i,  whose  battalion  was  then 
condensed  with  the  25th  resiment,  and  commanded  by 
lieutenant  colonel  Jessup,  and  who  had  been  s^t  by  that 
officer  for  directions  as  to  the  dispositiims  of  the  1st  M» 

fide,  that  general  Ripley  received  an  order  from  general 
rownto  collect  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  to  retani 
witii,  the  army  to  its  encampmoit  on  the  Chippewft*  In 
obedience  to  the  wishes  of  the  commander  in  chief,  this 
order  was  put  into  immediate  execution..  Major  Hindman 
with  the  artillery,  was  already  on  his  march,  and  the  rem*' 
nant»of  the  regular  and  volunteer  brigades,  having  first 
rolial  the  smaller  pieces  of  the  enemy's  cannon  down  the 
precipice,  returned  to  the  camp  ingpod  oider,  and  without 
molestation,  about  1  o'clock  in  th?  morning  of  the  Sdth. 

In  this  instance,  as  at  the  defence  of  Sacket's  Harbour, 
where  it  has  been  seen,  the  Bri^sh  troops  were  opposed 
and  repulsed  by:  the  same  commanj^er,  the  eneiny  claim- 
ed another  decisive  and  more  brilliant  victory.  The  Gov- 
ernor general,  sir  iGreorge  Preypst,  and  the  commaoding 
^neraf  Drummond,  complimented  the  regulars  and  mili- 
tia eng^tged  in  it,  **for  tneir  ejpemplaru  steadineBg,  gtil^< 
"  lantrjf  p.nd  discutline,  in  repilntig  all  the  efortB  of  a 
"  numerous  and  determined  en^mv,  to  carry  tM  position 
*<  qf  Lundy*8lane,**  and  announced,  "that  their  eaertiQ^s 
**  had  been  crowned  with  success,  by  the  complete  defeat  of 
"  the  enemy.** 

If,  upon  ground  of  their  own  selection,  and  with  a  body 
of  1637  men,  to  assail  an  advanced  party  of  an  enemy  o( 
only  750,  and  after  an  hour's  obstinate  conflict,  to  repose 
on  their  arms,  until  they  could  be  relieved  by  reinforce- 
ments—If,  after  a  mutual  reinforcement,  their  enemy's 
numbers  should  amount  to  two  brigades  of  1450  infantry, 
a  detachment  of  367  artillery,  and  a  corps  of  600  yoj^n- 
tears,  making  in  all  24i7  men,  and  their  own  force  sbwld 
consist  according  to  a  repprt  of  one  of  their  officers. 


^t 


^t 


if 


WW 


'.*f«l 


t«?." 


#■ 


:#:^ 


HISTOTllCAIt  SKETClIki 

of  3450  re^lara,  1800  incorponted  fpi^tia,  and  4^  In- 
^iam,  Biakine  in  all  5150  men,  and,  with  this  disparity 
df  strength,  mey  should  be  driven'^om  the  .eminenoii  on 
whic^  they  liad  advantageously  posted  themselves,  with 
the  loss,  too,  of  all  their  cannon— If  after  three  desperi^ 
assaults,  any  one  of  them  upwards  of  SO  minutes  in  dU'^ 
ration,  for  Vie  recovery  of  their  battery,  and  with  the  abi- 
lity to  interpose  fresh  lines,  to  be  successively  repulsed 
with  imnitese  losses,  and,  after  a  contest  of  six  hours 
(from  half  past  5  in  the  evening,  until  12  at  night)  be- 
tween some  of  the  best  disciplineid  troops  of  Europe,  and 
newly  nused  recruits,  the  former  eventually  to  withdraw 
from  the  field,  and  leave  their  enemy  in  possession  not 
only  of'tiieir  cannon,  but  of  one  of  their  generals,  the 
second  in  command,  the  first  having  narrowly  escaped 
capture— -If  this  bo  to  eifect  the  complete  defeat  and 
overthrow  of  their  adversary,  the  British  troops  certainly 
achiev^  a  tMilliant  and  decisive  victory.    Tne  governor 

Seneral  of  the  Canadas  was.  in  the  performance  of  his 
utywhenhe  complimented' tliem  for  their  steadiness; 
and,  the  prince  regent  of  Ensland  betrayed  n^  precipi- 
tationi  when  he  announced  it  to  the  wend,  and  permit- 
ted **  Niagara*^  to  be  worn  upon  the  caps  of  <me,of  the 
reoments.  -■—■'. 

The  captured  artillery,  it  is  true,  was  re-obtained  by 
its  ori^nal  owners;  but,  its  return  to  their  possession, 
was  neither  the  result  of  any  desperate  eflS»rt  to  regain  it, 
*^br  the  evidence  of  a  victory.  They  had  entered  into 
the  engagement  under  ciipcumstances  highly  advantage- 
ous. Their  force  could  be  continually  au^ented,  eiliier 
by^requisitions  for  militia,  t>r  by  the  C9iicentratiion  of  their 
regulai«  from  the  neighbouring  jiosts,  and  was  already 
double  the  strength  of  the  Americans.  They  were  sur- 
rounded by  deposits  of  ammunition,  and,  being;  in  the 
vicinity  of  their  garrisons,  could  at  any  time,  a£i^ister 
to  the  wants  of  their  army.  Not  so  the  AnusMcans^--* 
They  were  at  a  distance  from  any  resources,  whence 
they  might  derive  either  supplies  or  reinforcements— 
Their  numbers  had  been  lessened  by  repeated  sMriiiushes 
with  the  enemy,  and  by  the  casualties  commonly  uici- 
dent  to  armies.  With  the  odds  against  them,  ^/ti&d 
been  drawn  into  this  tremendous  struggle,  tiie  long  d^ra- 


,|te 


mf 


HV  TliK  I.ATK  -W^JU 


30t 


id  480  In- 
dispaiity 
ineiBloeoii 
tve8»  with 
deepen^ 
itesindtt' 
th  the  abi- 
f  repulsed 
six  hours 
night)  be- 
irope,  and 
wtthdraw 
ession  not 
lerals,  the 
▼  escaped 
[efeat  and 
i  jcertainlj 
e  governor 
uce  of  his 
steadiness ; 
1^  precipi- 
id  permit- 
one  <ai  the 

>tained  by 

possession, 

»  regain  it, 

tered  into 

idvantage- 

ted»  either 

on  of  their 

IS  already 

were  8ui> 

na  in  the 

idii^ister 

i^cans^-* 

i,  whence 

ements^— 

sldiniii^ies 

only  iBci- 

.  %ey1i&d 

long  dura- 


tion «f  which  so  mttdilBiluiiisted  their  troops,and  reduced 
tMir  numbers,  thM  after  becoming  the  eniiro  masters 
orthe4ei|l»and  keeping  possession  of  it  nearly  an  hour, 
tli^  t^tived  with  a  fimxe ,  not  amountioc  to  the  eottple- 
niGpof two  regiments.  In  this  reducea state, and  with- 
out the  means  of  removing  the  captured  pfMerty,  they 
left  the  enemy's  cannon  at  the  foot  of  the  llttin^e*  on 
which  they  had  proudly  and  gallantly  wrested  it  from 
him.  Had  their  means  been  less  limited,  Ibey  might 
have  embellished  the  conquest  notonly  with  these,  but 
other  splendid  trophies;  pat  all  disputation  for  ever  at 
rest;  and  left  no  alternative  to  the  enemy, hut  an  acknow* 
ledgment  of  his  defeat  and  disgrace.  In  a  battle  cles- 
perate  and  tremendous  as  this  is  represented  to  have 
beep,  the  loesea  on  «Mh  sifle  m\i8t  necessarily  have  bran 
isuiiense.  In  kiUed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and  missings 
the  total  oi  both  armies  amounted  to  1729,  the  proportion 
being  nearly  e(|lial«  and  the  killed  and  wouimed  alone 
1384^  On  &e  side  of  the  enemy,  I  usHStantaidyutant  ge« 
neral,  1  captain^  3  subidterns,  aild  79  nen-comntiasioned 
officers  and  privates  were^kBled;  lieutenant  general  Dntm* 
iBond,  major  general  Riall,  and  3  lieutenants  colonel  2 
minors*  B  captains,  22  subalterns,  and  522  non-commis^ 
sioned  officers  and  privates  were  Wounded;  and  thepri> 
soners  and  missing  amounted  to,  I  aid  de  camp  (cap4in 
Lonn|^)  5  ol^er  captains,  9  dilbaltems,  and  290  non- 
conuBiastoBed  officers  and  privates;  msddng  in  all  878 
men. 

Many  officers  of  distinction  fell  alto  on  the  other  side; 
and  the  total  loss  was  little  less  than  that  of  the  British: 
it  consisted  of  1  miyor,  5  ciq»tains,  5  subalterns,  150  non* 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  killed ;  major  general 
Brown,  bri^diers  ^nem  Scott  and  Porter;  2  aids  de 
camp,  1  bngade  miyor,  1  colonel,  4  lieutenants  colonel, 
1  majors  7  captains,  37  subalterns,  and  515  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  privates,  wounded;  and  1  brigade  ma- 
jur,  1  captain,  6  subalterns,  and  102  non^commissidned 
officers  and  privates,  missing;  making  a  erand  total  of 
851,  and  a  diiSferenc6  of  27  only  between  me  contendii^ 
parties. 

Of  tfa^  individual  gallantry  of  the  officers,  from  the  higfi- 
est  in  rank,  down  to  the  youngest  subaltern,  the  most  po- 
sitive evidence  is  fumiahed  by  ^e  long  list  of  kUled  4&<i 

Cc 


^1^ 


ip 


wm 


^i^ 


30d 


UUVOBICAli  SK&TCHKS 


''■#• 


■  %i 


^ouBded.  Every  mMi  ttpon  the  field  being  en^^aged  in 
the  iMtttle,  the  bmrei^  of  no  one  officer  wm  duitiBSuitha- 
^le  from  another*  except  in  those  instanees  when  oy  the 
change  of  the  enemy'a  movements,  detachments  were 
thrown  into  sitiiatiooa,  from  which  they  ccnild  be  extri- 
cated only  b^  the  most  daring  intrepidity. 

When  iiiir  American  forces  returned  to  their  encamp- 
ment  at  Chippewa,  major  general  Brown  directed  gene- 
ral Ripley  |o  refresh  the  troops  and  proceed  with  them  ear* 
ly  in  the  niiomingi  to  tiie  battle  ground ;  with  a  view,  no 
dioubt,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy,  and  if  he  loitered  near 
the  field  in  a  position  fit>m  which  he  might  be  advan- 
tageously driven,  to  engage  him ;  but  certamly  not  to 
assail  a  superior  force,  under  circumstancei  to  the  last 
degree  unfavourable,  and  which  woidd  inevitably  result- 
in  the  total  destruction  of  the  American  army.  The 
troops,  now  amounting  to  about  1560^  being  putinmo- 
tloli,  in  obedience  to  this  order,  general  Ripley  despatch* 
ed  feconuoitrinff  parties  in  advance  of  his  main  body«r— 
Vrom  ^ese  he  teamed  that  the  eneniy  was  posted  on  the 
field  in  advance  of  his  former  position  on  tne  eminence; 
reinforced  as  had  been  reported  by  the  prisoner»$  his  line 
drawn  up  between  the  river  and  a  thick  wood,  his  ^flanks 
resting  on  each,  and  his  cannon  stationed  so  u  to  enfip 
lade  me  road.  Under  such  circumstances,  it  would  have 
been  nighly  injudicioua  to  have  attacked  him;  and,  where 
no  advantages  are  to  h^  gmned,  the  useless  effusion  irf 
human  bloM,  is  a  stain  upon  the  ability  and  valour,  as 
lirell  as  upon  the  judgment  and  humanity  (^  ^he  soldier. 
General  lUpley  seeing  the  impossibility  of  re^^ining  the 
field  of  batue,  and,  the^  probatnlity  of  nis  ow^  flanks  be- 
inj^  compelled  to  fall  back,  by  the  immense  auperioiity 
or  the  enemy's  numbers,  turned  his  army  towards  the 
Qhippewa;  whence,  having  first  destroyed  the  bridges 
over  that  stream,  as  well  as  the  platforms,  which  he  had 
previfiusly  constructed  at  the  enemy's  old  works  there^ 
tiie  pli<stted  his  retreat  towards  the  fort  Erie;  and  reached 
it  ill  good  order  on  the  following  day.  There  he  deter- 
iriined  upon  makins  a  decided  8tanc(a^inst  the  British 
troops,  whose  regular  and  gradual  approaches  he  anti* 
cipated*    -  '?''--''^'t    ■/;.•..•■ 


^W  THB  ULTB  WAK. 


903 


ig  enjpiged  ill 
I  dmoBguiiiiap 
i  when  Dy  the 
hmentt  were 
Mild  be  extri- 

iheir  eitcftmp* 
lirected  getie- 
with  them  ear- 
Ith  a  view,  no 
s  loitered  near 
l^t  be  fldvan- 
rtainl  J  not  to 
:e^  to  the  last 
Bvitably  reaxAir 
I  army.  ^  The 
ing  put  ui  mo- 
ipley  despatch- 
B  main  bodyv— 
»  posted  on  the 
tne  eminence; 
MmeFti  his  line 
Dod,  his  ^anks 
i  so  as  to  enfir 
^  it  would  have 
m;  wid,  where 
ess  effusion  of 
and  valour,  as 
•  of  the  soldier, 
f  refining  the 
owsi  flanks  be- 
lEse  superiority 
if  towards  the 
ed  the  bridges 
,  which  he  had 
id  works  there, 
e;  and  reached 
There  he  deter- 
ittst  ^e  British 
Miches  he  anti^ 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Li^ 


J.) 


Jhfeneet  of  Fart  Erie  §xUruUd'-^nve8Ud  iy  Hit  tngmjf 
'-^Tke  BHHth  Umd  hdfiiw  Btigaimi  md  am  tt^m 
at  Can^ockeda  Creeh-'-^apdrs  of  oiUposts  Bmihif 
Jtimjw  Jlbrgmn^'-^umM  mpt/a  Fort  MvU^'H^  he- 
siegers  driven  back  to  U^r  wmk»^Lo9$ef  the  Mhea* 
Iters  Somertatid  OhiO^-^Menewal  ef  the  ettnmmadi  and 
fromtorrfiMeiilit 

This  retrograde  movement  of  the  Alneflesii  am^ 
WW  no  sooDcr  emscted,  and  tiie  sitliatioiis  of  the  dilSMeai 
regiments  aUotted  in  the  encaiupmelit;  ten  the  eim* 
nandtng  general  (Ripley^  imniediately  dincted  tbei^  HinSil 
of  drfence  to  be  extended^  tlie  fori  enlanged,  and  »•# 
batteries  erected.  With  tbe  aid  of  the  engmeers,  fieuioi- 
nants  colonel  Wood  aaod  M^Ree^  defences  of  i|biKtt£i^  thh 
verses,  intrenchments,  ftnd  redoubts,  were  instatttly  com* 
menceid^  and  from  the  27tk  of  iuly,  until  the  dd  or  Sd  tff 
August^  the  troops  were  employed  night  and  dskf.  In 
placing  the  works  in  a  State,  to  sustain  me  expected  ami 
idmost  certain,  attack.  Had  Mieutenaiit  ^neral  Brmi* 
niond  followed  up  the  victory  w)»eh  he  cUimed,  he  wevild 
have  found  the  shattered  American  briflndes  seureelj  ^ 
any  kuid  of  cottditioB.  ^  resist  htm.  But  the  eaotmift 
enemy  did  not  choose  to  pursue  a  retreating  army^K^Ois 
troop*  had  ^ven  falm  such  signal  proofs^  of  th«r  intretoi* 
dity,  vmiaA  his  own  nundiers  were  again  enlarged.  On  tne 
29th  of  July,  being  reinforced  by  m  fkht  aiM  lelfc  ifings 
of  De  Watterilie  troops  (1100  strong,  &  puiiied  firwiuf# 
to  the  investment  of  tto  fort  This  reinforeemeni  eH" 
tended  his  numbers  to  5SM  men,  and  with  thSi  fortnl- 
dable  superiority  of  str^ieth,  ke  appeitred,  on  the  3d  day 
of  August,  before  a  fort,  whic^*  but  a  few  daya  befea^,  was 
declared  by  the  enemy  to  be  a  mretohed  stockade<  altD- 
gether  incapable  of  ddence. 


M' 


304 


HISTORIC AI«  SKETCHES 


Having  driven  in  the  American  picquets,  and  formed 
his  encampment  two  miles  distant  from  the  garrison,  he 
eraduallj  approached  within  400  or  600  yards  of  the  fort 
(properly  so  called)  commenced  a  double  line  of  intrench- 
iments,  erected  batteries  in  front  of  them  at  points  from 
which  he  could  throw  in  an  effectual  fire»  and  planted  his 
cannon  so  as  to  enfilade  the  works.  Seeing  by  these  in- 
dications that  the  British  commander  was  preparing  for 
a  regular  siege,  general  Ripley  availed  himself  of  the 
time  thus  lost  by  the  enemy,  in  opening  his  trenches,  and 
carried  on  his  defensive  arrangement  with  unceasing 
alacrity. 

The  approach  of  the  British  army  on  the  2d  of  August, 
bdna;  discovered  by  major  Moigan,  of  the  ist  riflemen, 
to  wnoto,  with  a  detachment  of  940  men,  the  defence  of 
the  village  of  Bufi&loe,  which  had  r«|g^ined  its  former 
flourisl^n^  condition,  was  entrusted,  he  suspected  the 
enemy  oimaking  a  feint  upon  fort  Erie,  with  a  view  to 
an  actual  attack  upon  Buflaloe.  To.  defeat  any  such  ob- 
iectyrhe  immediatiuy  took  a  position  on  the  upper  side  of 
Conejockeda  creek>  cut  away  the  bridge  crossmg  it,  and 
threw  up  a  breastwork  of  logs  in  the  course  of  the  nif^t. 
Though/the  British  general  had  no  intention  of  making 
a  feii^  nujor  Morgan's  precautions,  in  anticipation  of  an 
attack,  wore  not  uselessly  adopted ;  for,  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  a  detachment  of  the  enemy's  4^  st  reei- 
ment,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Tucker,  crossed  the  Nia- 

Sara  in  nine  boats,  and  landed  about  half  a  mile  below 
le  creek.  At  the  approach  of  day,  the  British  colonel 
commenced  an  attack  upon  tiie  detachment,  and  sent  for- 
ward a  party  to  repftir  .the  bridge,  under  cover  of  his  fire. 
Major  Morsan  did  not  attempt  to  retard  the  enemy's  ad-> 
vances,  until  he  was  within  riiie  distance,  when  he  opened 
a  fire,  which  proved  so  destructive,  that  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Tucker  fell  back  to  tlie  skirt  of  a  neighbouring 
wood,  and  kept  up  the  contest  at  long  shot.  In  the  mean 
time,  general  I>nimmond  th/ew  over  mnforcements,  and 
the  Imtish  detachment  now  amounted  to  nearly  1200 
men.  With  this  force  colonel  Tucker  attempted  to  fla'ik 
his  antixonist,  by  despatching  his  left  wing  to  ford  the 
cre^k  above,  and  press  down  upon  the  opposite  side : 
thisi  movement  being  cbserved,  major  Moi^n  sent  for- 
ward Ueutenauts  Ryan,  Smith  and  Armstrong,  to  appose 


OF  TRE  LATK  WAll. 


SOS 


the  fording  party.  Betw««n  tkcs^  detiMthwentSv  aii  eb- 
gageraent  took  place,  a  short  dbtence  above  tfiie  breast- 
work, and  after  several  heavy  dischtt^ges^  the  enemy  fell 
back  to  his  main  body,  with  connldendiile  loss.  Liettte-' 
nant  cobnel  Tucker,  finiding  that  the  «ljfect  of  his  expe- 
dition against  BuflfSiio^  (4he  ncaptare  of  gjSiieind.'  iHidl, 
and  the  leslinietioa  cf  the  pitbKe  «tdi«8  tli4r«)  ^uld  ii«t 
«be  achieved  without  an  immense  loss^^  tmA  k&dUHng  the 
desire  of  lieutenant  general'  DrmtJlnMAIdK  lb  aitt^ent,  ra« 
ther  than  decrease,  tme  fidrcei  destined  for  the  ai^  4if  the 
ioirt,  oti  the  ofypesite  ^one^  tm  deterttdned  oii  aitaudorii^ 
the  enterprise,  and  dmn^iig  off  hk  troops  to  Squai^  iiSmni 
and  reli»Wd  ^je&cia  fitfthe  Camdteii  shoreid  With  se^small 
a  force,  mi^  liio«giiR  coold^  ti^  atUniintto'  antfojr  ^m,  in 
his  retreat  He<  is  attpposed  t&  hxve  io»t  a  c^iiuderabte 
number  of  m^  iBfany  dead  boilei  IweilBg  found  iii  the 
credt,  and  upon  die  lieldi  aad-filK  priiioaers!  bei%  ^akeu 
by  the  d^taehm^fit  In- diisjEamnt  U^e  affiur,  captltitl 
Mamilton,  and*  lieutiema»tff  wWdswortH  and  WBtt>&^  df 
the  riflemi^,  aild  ftre  pfinU»8|  vip«ne  wounds,  and  tWo^ 
privates  Mlled; 

By  th&Tth  of  August,  most  of  the  batteries*  and  tra- 
versea  abptft  fort  Erie,  were  completed;  UpoA  a  battery 
upwarda  of  20  feet  h%h,  and  situated  at  S^^ake  MH,  the 
southern  extremity  of  tlie  works^^fi.ve  £Uns  wtt'e  mount- 
ed, and  the  commasid  eiven  to  n^M^  ^^^/son^  of  the  ai«- 
tillery.  Two  other  bat^ries  bet^,en  I'owiim's  and  the 
ua^tk  works^  one  mounting  thre««.  guni^  under  liaptainBid^ 
dk,  a^d  the  other  twojpm^,  under  lieutenant  Fontailliej 
were  also  completed  The  northern  point  of  the  fort  had^ 
been  extended  to  the  water,  and  die  ilo^aasbiK^ery,  ^ 
two  guns,  erected  <m  the  bonk.  Tae  drt^m,  inhvitf, 
riilemen,  and  volunter;n,  were  eHoan^w  betweetl  th^ 
western!  rampirts  iUfflU  the  wfttbf,  asid  the  idtlllWj^  undW 
maji[if  liindman,  stationed  wi^n  the  n&a^  #ti#a. 

Whilst  theso  preparations  wienre  malihi^  n^tinkpkiM 
csomonadestock  plftee,  without  an^lB>«r#iieff^  on  either 
side:  before  any  regular  Mng  wait  corAmeiieed,  biigsdilt* 
genarai  Gaines  arrived  at  die  ^Mrt,  and  asguined  the.'  com* 
iMttld  of  di  i  army.  General  I^plev  then  retuftifed  to  diie 
<comMKiiid  tit  his  brigade.  The  timsh>  army  mn-  hbW 
stren^t  p«iited  behind  their  woHiMi  att^  general  Oit&iif» 
dete^idtoad t<v ascertoisi^thc!:  strength,  audendefiyiM^  if 

Cc2 


w 


Si 


306 


HISTORICAL  SKETCUBS 


possible,  to  draw  them  out  On  the  6th,  he  sent  the  riile 
coq)S,  with  major  Morgan,  who  had  been  previously  trans- 
ferred from  the  American  shore,  to  pass  through  the  woods, 
interveiling  betweend^e  British  lines  and  the  fort,  and 
with  orders  to  amuse  the  enemy^S' light  troops,  until  his 
columns  .should  indicate  an  intention  to  move;  in  that 
event,  majdr  Morgan  was  to  retire  gradually,  until  his 
corps  should  htkve  f^len  back,  upon  a  strong  line  posted^ 
in  me  plain  before*  the  fort,  to  receive  ^  pursuing  British 
troops.  The  object  of  this  movement  failed--ma|or  Mor- 
gp*"  having  encountered  and  forced  the  enemy's  light 
troops  into  the  lines,  with  the  loss  of  eleven  killed  and 
three  wounded  and  made  prisoners;  but,  notwithstaiidini^, 
he  maintained  his  p<Niition  upwards  of  two  hours,  he  could 
not  succeed  in  drawing  forth  the  main  body  of  the  British 
troops.  He  therefore  returned  to  the  fort,  after  losing  five 
men  kill^  and  four  wounded.  By  the  10th,  the  enemy's 
line  wad.  protects  trjT  several  block-iiouaes,  and  a  long 
wooden  breastwork;  To  examine  these  woi^s,  captain 
Birdsall,  of  th^  4th  rifle  re^ment,-was  sent  out  witii  a 
detachment  of  the  Ist,  and  his  own  company,  amoiintinr 
m  all  to  160  ipen.  After  so^ne  skirmishing.,  he  suck^edea 
in  beating  in  two  of  their  picquet  guards,  vith  a  loss  on 
their  sicke  of  ten  men  killed;  and  one  killed  and  three 
^rounded  of  the  riflemen.  On  the  12th,  a  working  party 
of  the  enei..y,  su]4)orted  by  a  guard  of  his  light  troops, 
was  disco  /ered  to  be  opening  an  avenue,  for  the  construc- 
'tion  of  an  additional  battery,  from  which,  to  annoy  the 
Tear  of  th<»  fort.  Agreeably  to  the  orders  of  general  Gaines, 
major  I«lorgan  detached  about  100  men,  under  captain 
Birasall,  to  cut  them  off":  that  ofiicer  immediiately  assailed 
the  guards  and,  after  h.  smart  contest,  drove  in  both  it  and 
the  wording  party.  In  the  event  of  the  enemy's  guard 
being  reinforced  mim^their  lines,  mmr  Morgan  had  been 
also  Ordered  to  hold  his  corps  in  readiness  to  support  cap- 
tain lUrdsftllK  and  as  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was  ob- 
served to  be  approaching  upon  the  detachment,  the  major 
]^lhODq»tly  moved  forward  and  eneaged  it.  A  warm  and 
spirited  conflaot  followed,  in  whi<£  several  men  were  kill- 
ed on  both  sides.  At  length,  however,  an  additional  party 
of  the  enemy  coming  up  to  the  aid  of  that  engaged,  major 
Morgan  ord^ired  his  corps  to  retire,  and  had  scarcely  given 
A  that  eSect^  wheot  he  received  a  musket  ball  in 


the  riiie 
ly  trans- 
e  woods, 
fort,  and 
lintil  his 
;  in  that 
until  hia 
e  posted  >• 
£  British 
nor  Mar- 
y's light 
(led  and 
itandin^, 
he  could 
e  British 
wing  five 
:  enemy's 


,  captain 
at  with  & 
noiiDtinr 
te^eded 
a  loss  on 
nd  three 
ing  party 
,t  troops, 
jonstruc- 
nnoy  the 
i  Gtunes, 
'  captain 
assailed 
th  it  and 
r's  guard 
lad  been 
)ort  cap- 
was  ob- 
tie  major 
cm  and 
rere  kill- 
lal  party 
d,  major 
iiy  given 
st  bill  in 


or  THE  tATB  WAlTi^ 


3or 


his  head,  which  for  ever  deprived  the  garrison,  and  his 
country,  of  his  vdiiable  services.  The  corps  was  con- 
ducted to  the  fort  by  captain  Birdsall,  and  the  body  of  its 
brave  and  lamented  commander,  interred  at  Btifialoe,  with 
the  proper  honours  and  solemnities. 

During  these  repeated  skirmishes,  and  in  tiie  intervals 
between  the  sorties  of  detachments,  the  besi^rs,  and  the 
b^ieged  were  diligently  engaged  in  strenemening  their 
respective  works;  and  from  the  7th  until  the  14th  of  the 
iiiontiti,  an  almost  unceasing  fire  was  ke^  up  between 
them  with  various  effect.  (Si  the  night  or  the  14th,  the 
emotion  and  tumult  in  the  British  encampment,  gave  cer- 
tain indications  of  an  iu tended  attack  upon  the  fort. — 
(General  Ri\>ley,  twajs  on  the  alert,  was  among  the  first 
to  discover  t  ^  *  'ications,  and  having  first  oraered  his 
brigade,  statioaeii  t(»  the  left,  to  be  formed  within  the  line 
of  defence,  he  despatched  his  aid,  lieutenant  Kirby,  to 
inform  general  Gaines,  of  his  conviction  of  the  enemy1» 
contemplation.  General  Gaines  was  himself  already  per- 
suaded, that  an  attempt  would  very  soon  be  made  to  storm 
the  sar..^n;  and  lieutenant  Kirby  had  no  sooner  deliver- 
ed his  message  at  head  quarter^,  than  the  firing  c^a  picquet, 
commanded  by  lieutenant  Belknap,  of  the  infantry,  as- 
sured him  that  the  moment  had  arrived.  Dispositions 
were  immediately  made  to  receive  the  assault,  and  the 
troops  jf  the  garnson  anticipated  its  result  with  pride  and: ' 
entiiusiasm.  --^ 

Lieutenant  general  r  «  ''i  and,  having  appointed  the 
morning  of  the  15  th,  f^  '%  irous  and  sudden  assault.^ 
upon  the  fort,  had  previously  ■  in.inged  the  order  of  attack-* 
in  three  columns,  to  be  made  at  three  distinct  points,  with 
a  view  to  harass  and  distract  the  garrison.  Itis  ri^bt  co- 
lumn, unt^^r  lieutenant. colonel  F'  '>er,  of  the  &£,  and 
composed  of  parts  of  the  89th  ami  iOOth  regiments;  De 
Watteville's  detachments  from  the  royal  artillery  with 
rocketeers;  and  a  picquet  c^  cavalry;  was  to  make  a  de« 
tour  of  three  milea  tb  >ugh  the  wodas,  and  to  assault  the 
southern  extremity  ( -  i^e  worics.  His  centre  column,  un- 
der lieutenant  colonel  ^li^mtn^nd,  of  the  104t' .  and  com- 
posed of  detachments  from  that,  and  the  4l8t  regiment 
of  inff^ntr^,  of  the  royal  artillery,  seamen  and  marines* 
was  to  hti!  conducted  by  captain  Barney,  of  thc^  29th,  ta 


# 


«p 


308 


HISTOSICAI.  8KBTCH£S 


the  attack  of  tlie  f(Nrt  The  li^ft  Golumn,  under  colonel 
Scott,  of  the  lOSd,  and  composed  of  that  regiment,  was 
to  be  led  bv  captain  Elliot,  to  penetrate  tK^e  openings  in 
the  wocks  between  the  fort  and  the  lake,  and  to  scale  the 
battery  upon  the  bank.  In  adTanee  of  lieutenant  Fischer's 
column,  tne  British  picquets^tt  Buck's  road,  toeetherwith 
the  liai^ns  of  the  encampment,  were  to  be  punied  on,  by 
lieutenant  cokHiel  Nichols,  to  driTe  in  the  American  ou^ 
posts.  The  royals  r  another  part  of  De  Watteville^  n^- 
ment;  theGleogarian^;  and  the  incorporated  militia^  ntt- 
der  lieutenant  oMonelTticker,  were  to  be  held  in  reserre: 
and  the  I9th  liglit  dragoons,  sta;  t'^'d  in  tiie  ra^ne,  in 
the  rear  of  the  fort,  to  receive  an«Li  tey  ^e  pdsoners 
to  the  encampment;  a  duty  which  ii  A  net  fait  to  tdeir 
lotto  perforn^ 

General  Gaines,  not  knowing  at  what  po»tB  the  asanlt 
would  )be  made,  prepared  to  receive  it  at  aH  these  Irhick 
he  suspected  the  enemy  miaht  judge  to  be  assailable. 
The  command  of  t^  fort  and  bastions  wa»^en  to  capo 
tain  Alexander  Williams,  of  the  artillery,  whicK  with  the 
battery  on  the  margin  of  the  lake,  under  lieutenant  Dou- 
glass, of  the  engineers,  and  thence  called  the  Boukkiss 
battery,  formed  the  northeast  and  southeast  aa^  of  the 
works.  In  a  bU)ck4iouse,  near  the  salient  bistioni  a  de- 
tachment of  ^e  19th  infantry,  was  stationed,  imder  major 
Trimble.  ^  The  batteries  in  firont;  undev  captains  Mddle 
and  Fanning,  were  supported  by  fl«neral  Porter^  volttn^ 
te^rs,  and  me  corps  or  riftemem  The  wlM>le  body  of  ar- 
tSkry,  distributed  throughout  the  garrison,  was  command- 
ed by  major  Hindman.  The  first  brigade  of  infantry, 
under  lieutenant  colonel  A^inwall,  was  posted  on  the 
right;  and  general  Ripley's  briendie  MppOTted  Towson's 
b^tery,  and  the  line  upon  the  lOR.  On  tne  evening  of  the 
14th,  a  few  hours  before  the  commencement  of  the  assault^ 
and  whilst  these  dtsbositwns  were  making  tot  repel  it^  one 
of  the  enemy's  sheila  foil  inio  w  smalt  macazihe  wi^in 
the  Anencan  worki^  tmA  produced  an  awfol  explosiotr. 
From  one  end'ol  the  British  line  to  the  other,  a  loud  shout 
was  tn consequence  uttered,  but as^Bo  badiei^tsfollowed 
the  explosion,  the  shout  was  repeated  i»  the  fort,  and  in 
tbe  mfidst  of  the  enemy's  exultation^  captiffii,  WMliaims 
immediately  discharged  all  his  heaty  pieces^ 


,^'v 


»£  THE  liATB  WAR. 


309 


tder  colonel 
^ment,  was 
openings  in 
to  scale  Ihe 
At  Fischer's 
iKetherwith 
i3ied  on,  by 
nericanou^ 
Bville'B  regi- 
militia,  on- 
[  in  resertv: 
B  ravine,  in 
lie  prisoners 


» the  aamlt 
those  trhick 
t  assailalile. 
^eii  to  cap^ 
cK  with  the 
tenant  Don- 
he  Boua^s 
11^^  of  the 

Sin^  a  de- 
er major 
sBlddte 
rter's  volttn- 
body  of  ar* 
icommand- 
of  infantry, 
ited  on  the 
)d  Tdwson's 
Bttingof  the 
the  assault, 
repel:  it^  one 
izin«  wi^in 
1  explosion. 
V  loud  shout 
Btifoltowed 
fort,  and  in 
n^Witiiams 


At  half  an  hour  after  two,  on  the  morning  of  the  15tb, 
though  the  darknesa  was  excessive,  the  approach  of  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Fischer  with  the  r    ht  column,  1^00  strong, 
was  distinctly  heard  on  the  left  ot  the  garrison.    The  2d 
brigade,  the  command  of  the  21st  reeiment  having  been 
^ven  to  lieutenant  colonel  Wood,  of  the  engineers,  and 
the  artillery  of  Towson's  battery  were  prepared  to  re- 
ceive him.    Marching  promptly  forward,  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Fischer  assailed  the  battery  with  scaling  ladders, 
and  the  line  toward  the  lake  with  the  bayonet.    He  was 
permitted  to  come  close  up  to  the  works,  when  the  21st 
and  23d  regiments,  and  the  artilleij  upon  the  battery, 
opened  a  sudden  and  tremendous  fire,  which  threw  his 
whole  column  into  confusion,  rendered  him  utterly  unable 
to  sustain  the  contest,  and  prevented  his  making  an  im- 
pression upon  the  works.    Having  retired  some  distance 
to  re-organize  his  column,  he  immediately  made  new 
arrangements  for,  and  varied  tiie  shape  of  his  next  attack, 
so  as  to  avoid  those  points,  from  which  the  ^eatest  mea- 
sure of  destruction  had  been  dealt  out  to  him.    Accord- 
ing to  the  general  plan,  howeirer,  which  it  was  incumbent 
on  him  to  pursue,  it  was,  necessary  that  the  battery  should 
be  carried;  but,  with  the  means  to  eifect  this  object,  he 
was  badly  provided. — -With  «caling  ladders,  of  no  more 
than  16  feet  in  length,  he  could  not  possibly  throw  his 
troW  upon  a  battery,  of  about  25  feet  high,  and  his  se- 
coi^^  attempt,  equally  furious  as  the  first,  met  with  no 
greater  success.    He  was  again  repulsed,  and  with  con- 
siderable loss.    Convinced  of  his  inability  to  get  posses- 
sion of  the  battery,  and  feeling  tiie  deadly  efl^cts  of  the 
incessant  shower?  of  grape,  which  were  thrown  upon  him, 
he  determined,  in  his  next  effort,  to  pass  the  point  of  the 
abattis,  by  wading  breast  deep  into  the  lake,  to  which  the 
works  were  open.    In  this  attempt  also,  he  was  unsuc- 
cessful, nearly  200  of  his  men  being  either  killed  or 
drowned,  and  the  remainder  precipitately  fallii^  back. 
Without  waiting  to  know  the  result  of  the  attack,  upon 
the  right  of  the  works,    which  had  been  already  made 
by  the  second  and  third  column,  he  ordered  a  retreat  to 
the  British  encampmeiit,  which  he  did  not  effect,  without 
the  loss  of  many  of  his  rear  guard,  taken  prisonei'S,  in  a 
sally  made   from   the  works,   by  the  order  of  genera'l 
Ripley. 


M 


I'?   ■ 

It     j 

I,    : 


;■ 
I 


3|Q 


UlST4>&iqA]«  SKJftTCitES 


Tbft  iktltlick  Ji^om  tM  eentre  and  hit  eoliiimi*  the  first 
of  7dO«  9m  the  8«c6nd  of  800  wmi^wttt  reie«ved^  until 
th^  Gontest  heMme  very  aniiiMted  betweon  licut«ii«it 
coloo^  FijKhtr'f  colutnii,  $3ad  the  troopt  upon  th*  left. 
From  the  line  V  defences,  hetweeii j&e  Iwiji^bai  hitte- 
rj  and  the Jortt  and  froift  those  in  front  of  tme  f$MnMOB, 
heutenant  psmnk  ^rmnmood  supposed  reinferceflBkents 
would  be  £awn  to  the  ajd  of  the  wuth^rn  extremiiy  of 
the  worlu^  ^  with  th^  view  he  had  given  ^nNiier 
stret^  ta  kv^  ri^t»  ih«i,ito  M»  other  cokinwoi  aiipl  i»* 
tended  to  ev«»l  h^imielf  ^  tbe.(»on8(M|u^  weaiieiied  iliil^ 

of  the  north*  and  south-eMi  angl^  of  ^e  AwericaftyNi* 
'ftii0  IMetmetf  Muft^dnvep  in»  the  epproeoh  of  lieudennnt 
ciileBel  jDiriininNNWE  w«e  .beard  from  the  favine»wl  -ee- 
hn^l  Se^tSi  eoh^n  at  the  aame  time  advaiioed  along 
the  maifin  of  ti|^  water.  From  the  8ali<Nit  bealioftel  the 
fort»  cJBi^in  Ijfilliams  immediately  opened  his  &fe  upon 
t|(e  centre  c^umiir--«whil»t  the  ai^roach  of  eolonel  ^ott 
was  ftti^iiipted  to  b^^eeheii  %  the  Douglass  battery* 
ai|4  ^^aina^  Bou|^ton  and  Hardira^  l^ew  York  mid 
Fii^yivania  volunloersiit  eii  >^  i^ii  the^  9th  iii|^try» 
^mder  capiain  Foi^^  on  its  leffe;  mid  a  &i^oimder  nlan^ 
edat  that  point,  under  the  manaaemeiiiof  colo^^  M*Ree. 
At  50  yarde  distance  from;  the  llnoy  the  enemy's  ld!t  co« 
^n^n  nmde  a  utMnentary  pause,  and  instantly  recoiled 
trvu  the  fire  of  the  cannon,  mid  mui^try^  But  the 
centre  column,  having  advanced  upmi  everv  assailable 
point  of  the  fort,*  in  defiance  of  the  rapid  and  heavy  dis- 
charges of  the  artiUery,  and  having,  ascended^tiie  pavap^t, 
by  means  of  a  hiise  number  of  scaling  lad^ers^  its  i^- 
c^rs  called  out  to  &  line,  extending  to  me  lake;  to^fdesist 
firing'<~an  artifice  which  snecoeded  so  w^l,  that  tlm 
Boaglasa  battety,.  and  ^e  infaatvy,  supposinp;  the  order 
to  proceed  from  thib  garrismi  suupendei  their  fire,  until 
the  detofitton  was  di  ovej^  Tpe  l^  column,  in  the 
meim  time^  reeovereu  >m '.  ka  .  c^utton,  and  was  led 
up  to  a^econd  cha^,  ^om  whieh  it  was  agun  repidsed, 
b^we  it^hi^nep^>iN!tthit3r'«i  planting  the  sealing  lad'^ 
ders,  and^pw  the  less  of  its  commaimer,  and  upwmtls 
of  one^lid^pttB  men. 

WhHst  the  if^eond  attempt  waa  in  operatioi!^  the  cen^e 
column  was  with  great  difficulty,  thrown  back  from  the 
salient  bastion;    and   the  troops  within  the  fort,  were 


.,  -r 


^■N 


OV  THB  LATE  WAV« 


311 


the  first 

EMl'llUltil 

mtenwit 

gMTflSOIt* 

reenents 

mel  $cotl 
18  bAtUry. 
York  «i»a 
I  ii^Mitry, 

y^Ultco* 

y  rocoiled 

^    But^e 

heavy  dis- 
paiwpftt, 

^  ii^ldesMi 
i^^iitfc  the 
the  order 
five,  until 
lq,  in  the 
w«»  led 
rtpnlted, 
ting  lad- 


■.;lv' 


the  cen^e 

from  the 

fort,  were 


reinforced  fivm  ||encral  Biplejr^  hrigade,  and  |;e- 
neral  Porter^  votttnteers.  Bat  lievtentnt  colo&til  Dmm- 
mond,  actuated  bjm  detsmiiiittkm  (iM^  to  be  overcome 
by  a  siiiffle  repttlsejLto  force  an  entrance  into  the  guti- 
aQB»  aiMl  momentaryy  eifkee|ing  ^e  rtservi^  tb  bt  ord^iw. 
ed  np  by  the  tieutenant  g;ettemi>  returned  to  the  assault  a 
second  and  a  third  tiBie.  %1he  naUant  efforts,  how- 
ever,of  Miftfor  H^ndman  and  mn  aHmei^^  «id  tiie  infan* 
try  de^idunent  of  nia|or  Trimble  he  was^ei^h  time,  more 
s%n^y  mmlsed  than  before;  and  coloiiel  fik^tf s  eotuhin 
havaig  wimdrawn  froR^Ute  actkAi,  upon  ^  fall  of  Ite 
leaderv  lieutenant  Boog^asa  vifaft  buiiiy  e^^d  ^  #Httr 
such  a  direetion.  to  die  gum  nf  Ms  battery^  aa  la  bof  or 
the  eomminiicatiini  between  SminmoM^  cotomn,  and  the 
restfve  of  lieutanasit  cofonel  fucker.  ^ 

Tbe  new  bastiona  which  had  been  conHneM^  for^ 
enkegement  of  theold  fort  Arie, not  being  yttcomple^d^ 
the  only  op|M»itiott  whieh  could  he  ^^  tii  this  enemy^ 
approaches  upon  those  poli^  wag%y'ttieanft"ef  small 
anus.  The  baftteries  of  captain  Biddle  indcaptahi  11^ 
Ring  (formerly  Fontatne%)  m  ^e  wo^W  intirvenlng  b€» 
tween  Towson^  battery  and  the  fert,  Were  therefore  open- 
ed upon  the  r^emy  widi|;ireat  vivi^ity,  and  his  advances 
from  the  (^><n,  frequcmtfy  checked  by  &oae  giUaiitnild 
meritorious  oflScers. 

^ter  this  third  r^mhe,  tkntenant  colonel  Th*Qmin<md, 
takingadvantage  of  the  ^darkness  <if  th%'  nrariiin^,.and  of 
the  heavy  oidttmna  of  smdce,  wtdch  doieceal<sd  afl^  Mi!ti» 
ffom  the  vi«w  of  the  gafrisctti,  iiibved  hh  tmept  s^eiithi 
round  the^ditch^  repeated  his  char^,and  reascended  his 
ladders  with  such  veloci^}  as  tog^  footing  on  thejpata- 
pet,  before  an^  eflfectui^  Oj^qpositiDn  could  be  made.  Bemg 
m  the  very  Bhddt  of  hi«  al^ii^he  diriected^m  to  chuigS 
vigDi-ously  with  th4^tt|^e»  aiid  bayoiM^  a|)(|  iu>  sl^^w 
quarters  to  any  yM^S^  aoldler  ^^^^  t^^  lliii 

order  waa^esecisked^iwm  the  utmoai  Iv^dity  and  die 
most  obstinate  previoils  papts  ^  die  en^ageiiient,  frrmed 
no  kind  of  panoiel  Wthe  vi<Hi»iceand  d68p|ri]ii^ii  of  the 
present  conflict 

^  General  idShiees,  in  hJi  ofiiciiki  letter,  sparifciiig  ^  Keoteniuit 
cotonel  Drummondit  observes,  "  The  order  of  '  Gvv0  tht  ftmkm 
m  quartert  was  often  reiterated  by  this  oflScer,  whose  toavwty,  W 
it  had  been  seasoned  with  virtue,  would  have  entitled  faim  to  the 
admiration  of  every  soldier." 


mmi^mm 


wmt. 


wm 


imVipill 


IIISTOEICAI*  8KST€li£ii 


31£ 


WatQioiigh  of  ^  «»^ei7#  Mi^^^     the  iiifitl^<^ 

ant9».  m  were  nil:  psw^Ay  ^v4Niiided^H4h«  ifiitt^^li^R 
W^mm,  moFliai^.*    liQliill^lbe  efwto  of  ^^o^lliv^* 

posted  )^f&m]tm^me9^ 

fort,  eoidd  #4^^4lii  ^^vitmi^^ 

firom  the  l|i|pp;|^,  i^iii^ifiiiijk^^^  # 

myt  bu|  lieutenant  e^lomV^l^i^mmm^^ 

TooM  th|e^«3dia«^8iA  ^M^ 
a  luiiids^ke#  he  A«$&mA  Mmxki  90m^iimi)imeitxm^ 
ty  of  the  iiasaflanti,  viitti  he^r^cetved  a  ipptol  shot  ^- 
chai^ged  at  (ui^^^  th^ha^  ivf  ^eil^^^4lliilnalid«i€  il^ 

tenant  colQii4  4m>^^^  ^ 

moip^Bls^'-f^lali^ii^lS^^ 

son  stan#!(ig  near  ^^mMJm'^'Si^^^  eolowel 

thriiHigh  rae  lire99t.,V::  ■'■:■  :-C.:~,'\..--  \'->a«-.v  :v...,v ,/■,:■,;:.■  . 
Hie  loft^  of  %pr.  Iipi4»t4^  ^^^Wt  the^peoliiHMity 
^f  tiM^  eneif^i  tmpi»  m  they  oiniluiiw^ 
th^  ioik^  i^a^ilM  ai^  re- 

pulsla  a<^y<N^  iiif lotia  5^ai|^  made  kp^nct^^Bi^J^^^ 

•  This  unui]^  yofti^oipb^  vtoilie^sm^      coloiiclAil^k^iliii 
WUliwna,  who  iM|a\^^  ^k^«I  ll|i«^  li^^  ^  I|iil^»d^^^S^ 
^lagmeer  desMiBii^f  |o  jfi^^  #^  f^Ott  is  |^%,i|id«ht^ 

who  iNi  a  ineii^el>  f^i^m  oiir  fbtom^nm  b«n^ 

cl^  «f  Phi]«del»ltii.  a^lfri^  <^  1^  fel||l. 

ing  M^^i^  10  jdMUre  Iq  th«  hoBOi8»^»adltiaipe!3^:;  Qfi(lie««»IMi^ 
of  IdlCt^JoliQted  t»  t»«  jient  to|% 

celved  M  ohier  to  »«^pfdr  thifher,  fie^m  vxei  Wa^mt  a  g^imsoR 
vviiicb,  fin*  se^iiTal  montiis,  he  had  commanded  witiK  reputation. 
Early  m  the  ^liini^  of  that  year,  j^ho^rii  in  a  nalbB  vi  eonval^S' 
eence  frmn  a  ^inmoas  fever,  M' pin^eeded  ib  mt  ^(^  and 
joined  the  anny  Of  geii»al  Brown*  uH  l^^lilch  no  officer  was  more 
univerMfll3^estee1nra. 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


Sid 


lain 


WW  .    !^^"^*^^W*' 

is  war 
ihot  ^• 


^eoiowel 


jitatet' 


bpittation. 
rasroore 


tachments  of  the  garrison.    The  approach  of  daylight 
enabled  both  pai-ties  to  give  a  more  certain  direction  to 
their  fire.    The  artillerists  had  already  severely  suffered ; 
but  with  those  that  remained,  and  a  reinforcing  detach- 
ment of  infantry,  major  Hindman  renewed  his  attempts 
to  drive  the  British  41st  and  104th  from  the  bastion. 
Oaptain  Birdsall,  at  the  same  moment,  drawing  out  his 
riflemen  from  the  ravelin,  rushed  through  the  ffateway 
into  the  foit:,  and  joining  in  the  charge,  receivea  an  ac- 
cidental wound  from  one  of  his  own  men,  just  as  the  at- 
tack failed.     Detachments  from  the  1st  brigade,  under 
captain  Foster,  were  then  introduced  over  the  interior 
bastion,  to  the  assistance  of  major  Hindman ;  these  de« 
tachments  were  to  charge  at  a  aiffefent  point  of  the  sa^ 
lient,  or  exterior  bastion,  and  were  handsomely  led  on  by 
captain  Foster,  and  the  assistant  inspector  general,  major 
Hall.    This  chai]^  also  failed;  the  passage  up  the  bas- 
tion not  being  wide  enough  to  admit  more  than  3  men 
abreast     It  was  frequently,   however,  repeated,  and 
though  it  sometimes  occasioned  much  slau^ter  aqnong 
the  enemy's  infantry,  was  invariably  repulsed.    By  the 
operations  of  the  artillery,  from  a  demi-bastion  in  the  fort, 
and  the  continual  blaze  of  fire  from  the  small  arms,  added 
to  the  effects  of  the  repeated  charges,  the  enemy's  co- 
lumn, being  considerably  cut  up,  and  many  of  its  prin^ 
cipal  officers  wounded,  began  to  recoil;  which,  being 
obseiT'ed  by  the  besieged  party,  and  the  contest  having 
entirely  subsided  on  the  left  flank  of  the  works,  rein- 
forcements were  brought  up  from  that  point,  and  many 
of  the  enemy's  troops,  in  a  fev/  moments,  thrown  from 
the  bastion. 

The  British  reserve  was  now  expected  to  come  up; 
the  guns  at  the  Douelass  battery  had  by  this  time  been 
turned  so  as  to  enfilade  that  column  in  its  approach;  cap- 
tain Fanning  was  already  playing  upon  the  enemy  with 
great  effect;  and  captain  Biddle  was  ordered  to  post  a 
piece  of  artillery,  so  as  to  enfilade  the  salient  glacis^^- 
This  piece  was  served  with  uncommon  vivacity,  notwith- 
standing captain  Biddle  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  •  All  these  preparations  being  made  for  an  ef- 
fectual operation  upon  tne  enem^r's  remaining  column, 
and  from  the  dreadful  carnage  which  had  already  taken 
place,  it  was  scarcely  supposed  that  he  would  continue 


314 


UISTOEICAI.  H1££TCH£S 


^,V| 


the  aasauit  much  longer.  Bui  3  or  400  men  of  the  re- 
serve were  ibout  to  rush  upon  the  parapet  to  the  aaeist^ 
ance  of  those  recoiling,  when  a  tremendous  and  dreadful 
explosion  took  place,  under  the  pkUfbrm,  which  carried 
away  Jthe  bastion,  and  ail  who  happened  to  be  upon  it* 
The  enemy's  reserve  immediately  fell  back,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  contest  terminated  in  the  entire  defeat  of 
the  assailants,  who  returned  with  the  shattered  columns 
to  tiieir  encampment. 

On  retiring  imm  the  assault,  according  to  the  report  oi 
general  Gaines,  the  British  army  left  upon  the  field  22S 
EUled,  among  whom  were  14  officers  ol  distinction;  174 
.wounded;  and  18&  prisoners;  makins  a  total  of  582. 
Others  who  were  slightly  wounded  had  been  carried  to 
their  works. 

l^e  official  account  of  lieutenant  general  Drummond 
does  not  acknowledee  so  large  a  number  in  killed,  but 
makes  the  aggregate  Toss  much  greater.  His  adjutant  ^ 
neral  reported,  57  killed;  309  wounded;  and  539  mis- 
sins — ^in  all  905. 

T^  American  loss  amounted  to  17  killed;  56  wound- 
ed; and  1  lieutenant  (Fwitatne)  who  was  thrown  over  the 
|»ai«.pet,  while  defending  the  bastion,,  and  10  privates,  pri- 
soners— in  all  84  men;  making  a  difiference  in  th^  fii- 

*  This  explosion,  to  which  alone,  the  enemy  attributed  the  fai- 
lure of  his  arms,  notwithstanding  tiie  signal  repulse  of  his  ri|^ 
and  left  cohimns,  has  been  variously  accounted  for.  It  was  oc- 
casioned by  the  communication  of  a  spark  to  an  ammunition 
chest,  plabed  under  the  platform  of  the  bastion,  but  by  what 
means,  the  natrrator  of  this  event  has  not  been  able,  afler  an  in- 
vestig^on  of  many  papers,  written  to  him  upon  the  subject,  to 
ascertain.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  a  fiict  constituting  so  im- 
portant a  feature  in  this  memorable  defence,  should  never  have 
"been  mtitfactorily  developed.  Several  letters  from  officers,  en- 
'«aged«t  the  ngiat  flank  Cff  the  American  works,  state  it  to  have 
(been  the  vesult  pf  entire  accident ;  whilst  others  relate,  that  lieu- 
teaant  M^Donough,  not  having  been  immecUately  removed  from 
the  foot  of  the  bastion,  on  which  he  had  been  twice  wounded, 
and  being  lUghly  exasperated  at  the  determination,  which  he  saw 
fai  the  conduct  of  the  enemy's  troops,  to  shew  no  mercy  to  the 
Vanquislied  soldier,  resolved  upon  devotinjgf  himself  to  stop  the 
-progvess  of  their  inhuman  eoreer,  and  to  this  end  threw  alighted 
match  into  the  chest  of  ammunition,  and  by  its  immediate  explo- 
sion, produced  those  tremendoiMi  eflfects,  wtttch  lestored  tbe 
1)a8tion  to  the  Amcricaoa,  and  terminated  the  conflict 


OF  THB  LATE  WAS. 


did 


nf  the  re- 
he  assist- 
l  dreadful 
ch  carried 
»  upon  it* 
and  in  a 
;  defeat  of 
d  columns 

e  report  m 
e  field  222 
ction;  174 
tal  of  582. 
carried  to 

drummond 
kUled,  but 
djutant^ 
1  539  mis- 

56  wound- 

ivn  over  the 

rivates,  pri- 

m  th«r  fa- 

uted  the  fu- 
of  his  rigte 

It  was  oc- 

ammunition 

jut  by  what 

after  an  in- 
e  subject,  to 
uting  so  im- 

never  have 
officers,  en- 
te  it  to  have 
ite,thatlieu- 
iinoved  frotn. 
wounded, 
irtuch  he  saw 
nercy  to  the 

to  stop  the 
•ew  a  lighted 
sdiate  explo- 

ittored-tfae 


vour  of  821.  Daring  the  cannonade  and  bombardment 
which  commenced  on  the  13th,  and  continued  until  an 
hour  before  the  assault  on  the  mornins  of  the  15th,  45 
men  of  the  American  garrison  were  killed  and  wounded. 
Captain  Biddle,  lieutenant  Zantzinger,  and  adjutant  lieu- 
tenant Watmoueh,  of  the  artillery,  and  lieutenant  Patter- 
son, of  the  19th  mfantry,  among  the  latter. 

A  night  or  two  before  the  attack  upon  fort  Erie,  the 
British  general  furnished  captain  Dobbs,  of  the  royal  na- 
vy, with  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  to  man  9  large 
boats,  which  were  completely  fitted  to  attack  the  3 
schooners,  the  Somers,  Porcupine,  and  Cttiio,  then  lying 
at  anchor  off  the  fort.  The  Porcupine  succeeded  in  beat- 
ing them  off,  but  the  Somers  and  Ohio  were  carried,  after 
a  gallant  resistance,  in  which  the  enemy  lost  2  seamen 
kuled,  and  4  wounded;  and  the  schooners,  1  seaman 
killed,  and  3  officers  and  4  seamen  wounded.  The  cap- 
tured schoonors  were  taken  down  the  Niagara,  and  an- 
chored near  Frenchman's  creek;  ihe  Porcupine  imanedi- 
ately  after  suled  for  the  town  of  Erie. 

In  c<»i8eqaence  of  hoM  immense  loises  in  the  assault, 
the  eaemy'a  force  was  reduced  ahnost  to  the  number  of 
the  troops  within  the  earrison ;  and  until  he  was  a^na 
reinforced,  he  did  not  ^unk  proper  to  carry  on  hi»  oMra* 
tions.  A  few  days  iHroughthima  reinforcement  ot  two 
full  regiments,  and  having  enlai^d  his  batteries,  and 
made  akrimgementa  to  force  the  Americans  to  the  evacu** 
ation  of  fort  Erie,  he  opened  a  fire  from  his  whole  line* 
and  threw  in  hot  shot,  shells,  and  every  destructive  im- 
plement within  hifl  reach,  without  intermission,  during 
the  reminder  of  the  month  of  August.  On  the  28th,  ge- 
neral Gaines  was  severely  wounded  in  several  parts  of 
his  body  by  a  shell  which  fell  through  the  root  of  his 
quarters,^  and  exploded  at  his  feet  He  was  fortunate 
enough  to  escape  8uffi>cation,  by  gaining  the  door  of  the 
apartment;  but  being  entirely  disabled,  ne  retired  to  fiuf- 
ialoe,  and  left  the  command  again  in  the  hands  of  gene- 
ral Ripley,  who  n^ected  no  means  to  facilitate  the 
completion  of  the  works,  which  with  the  assistance  of 
th«^  ^  tgineers,  h(;  had  originally  planned. 


316 


HISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Invasion  of  the  ^American  territory  by  sir  George  Prevost 
"^Battle  of  the  8aranac — Defeat  and  capture  of  the 
British  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain — Plattsburg  evacu-- 
ated — Continuation  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie — The  be- 
sieged make  a  sortie  from  their  works,  and^storm  those 
of  the  besiegers"— The  British  raise  the  siege,  and  re- 
tire  to  the  Chippewa — Engagement  at  Lyon*s  Creek 
--Destruction  of  Fort  Erie  by  the  »Sm£rican8,  and 
evacuatifm  of  Upper  Canada — Operations  agmnst 
MicMlimacktnac^-Loss  of  the  U.  S.  vessels  Scorpion 
and  Tigress — Expedition  into  Canada,  under  general 
M*Arthur. 

The  operations  against  the  enemy's  positions  along 
the  Niagara*  had  scarcely  been  entered  upon,  when  the 
governor  general,  sir  Geoi^e  Prevost,  matured  the  plan 
of  the  expedition,  having  for  its  object  the  invasion  or  the 
American  territory,  from  Ijower  Canada;  the  defeat  and 
destruction  of  the  right  division  of  the  United  States' 
army  then  lying  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Plattsbui^,  un- 
der major  general  Izard ;  and  the  subju^tion  of  the  coun- 
try to  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga.  l^o  oflfensive  mea- 
sures against  any  part  of  Lower  Canada,  by  this  army, 
being  at  that  time  in  contemplation,  and  the  apprehen- 
sions of  the  war'department  having  been  strongly  excited 
about  the  safety  of  the  left  division,  after  its  investment 
at  fort  Brie,  general  Izard  received  orders  to  march  for 
that  post,  with  a  reinforcement  of  the  lai^st  proportion 
of  his  troops,  and  to  assume  tlie  command  ot  the  garri- 
son. Accordingly,  after  detaching  about  1500  men,  un- 
der brigadier  general  Macomb,  most  of  whom  were  either 
sick  or  convalescent,  and  requiring  of  general  Mooers,  of 
the  New  York  militia,  the  aid  of  a  few  volunteer  compa- 
nies, for  the  defence  of  Plattsburg,  he  marched  for  Sack- 
et'a  Harbour,  with  upwards  of  3000  men.  Being  thus 
left  in  coidmand  of  a  position,  open  to  the  attacks  of  the 


or  THE  LATE  WAIt* 


317 


^revost 
of  the 
evacu' 
Thp.  he- 
rn those 
md  re- 
Creek 
n,8t  and 
igainst 
wrpion 
general 


8  along 
hen  the 
le  plan 
1  01  the 
eat  and 
States' 
rg,  un- 
e  coun- 
ire  mea- 
army, 
irehen- 
ixcited 
stment 
rch  for 
portion 
e  garri- 
en,  un- 
i  either 
[)erB,  of 
compa- 
Sack- 
g  thus 
of  the 


enemy's  naval,  as  well  as  his  land  forces,  general  Macomb 
neglected  no  precaution  to  prevent  surprise,  and  to  put 
his  small  army  in  the  best  state  of  discipline,  though  on 
the  1st  of  September,  in  consequence  of  the  best  bri- 

Sades  bavins  oeeu  broken  up,  to  form  eeneral  Izard's 
ivision,  he  had  but  one  battalion  property  orjsnnized.—- 
The  works  erecting  were  on  that  day  unfinish^,  and  the 
troops,  therefore,  divided  into  detachments  to  complete 
them. 

Transports,  with  troops,  had  been  continually  arrivine 
at  Quebec,  from  England,  and  such  was  the  secrecy  and 
address,  with  which  sir  George  Prevost  made  preparations 
for  his  intended  expedition,  that,  before  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, he  had  organized  a  powerful  army  of  14,000  men 
opposite  Montreal,  constituted  of  the  most  experienced 
generals,  and  distinguished  officers  of  the  British  army. 
This  comparatively  immense  force  consisted  of  three  bri- 
gades and  a  c  is  of  reserve,  the  brigades  being  divided 
into  twenty-f  divisions,  and  having  a  staff  composed  of 
two  lieutenahio  general,  five  maiors  general,  and  a  propor- 
tionate number  of  assistants  anu  deputies.  The  respective 
brigades  were  commanded  by  maiors  general,  Robertson, 
Powers^  firisbane,  and  Baynes  (adjutant  general).  Major 
general  Kempt  commanded  the  reserve.  Sir  Sidney  Beck- 
with  was  quarter  master  general  to  this  army,  ana  lieute- 
nant general  De  Rottenburg,  the  second  in  command — sir 
Geoi^e  Prevost  commanding  in  person. 

Abbut  the  first  of  the  month,  he  Occupied  with  these 
troops  the  village  of  Champlain,  and  issued  addresses 
and  proclamations,  inviting  the  citizens  to  his  standard, 
and  promising  them  the  protection  of  his  majesty's  go- 
vemmeni.  From  Champlain  he  continued  to  make  gra- 
dual approaches  towards  Plattsbui^,  until  the  64h.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  that  day,  he  mt^e  a  rapid  advance  in 
two  columns,  one  coming  down  the  Beckmantown  road, 
and  the  other  along  the  Lake  road.  At  a  bridge  crossing 
Dead  creek,  intersecting  the  latter,  general  ]Mac<Hnb  had 
stationed  a  detadiment  of  200  men,  under  captain  Sprout, 
of  the  13th,  to  abattis  the  woods,  and  to  place  obstruc- 
tions in  the  road;  after  which,  he  was  to  fortify  himself 
with  two  field  pieces,  sent  with  him  for  that  purpose,  and 
to  receive  orders  from  lieutenant  colonel  Appling,  who 
with  100  riflemen,  was  reconnoitring  the  enemy's  move- 

Dd  2 


318 


HISTOBICAL  SKETCHES 


ments  some  distance  in  advance  of  this jKosition.  The 
brigade  of  general  Brisbane,  which  approached  through 
the  Beckmantown  road  with  mors  rapidity  than  the  other, 
was  met  by  about  700  militia,  under  general  Mooers,  who, 
after  a  sli^t  skirmish  with  the  ei^emj's  lidit  parties,  with 
the  ex«eption  of  one  or  two  companies,  fled  :n  the  great- 
est disorder.  Those  who  were  intrepid  enough  to  re- 
main, were  immediately  formed  with  a  corps  of  250  n>gu- 
lars,  under  major  Wooll,  of  the  29th,  and  disputed  the 
passage  of  the  road  for  some  time.  But  their  fears  ako 
^tting  at  length  the  better  of  their  judgment,  notwith- 
^nding  the  oneiny  fired  only  from  his  flankers  and  pa- 
trolling parties,  tiiey  followert  the  example  of  their  com- 
rades, and  precipitately  retired  to  the  villp^e.  Major 
WoolPs  regulars  remained  firm  ho"=ever,  a;  a  oeing  join- 
ed by  captain  L.  Leonard's  park  of  flying  artillery,  and 
the  6thtand  a  detachment  of  the  34th  re^ment,  continued 
to  anno^  tiie  adviancing  parties  of  the  Bntish  column,  and 
killed  lieutenant  colonel  Wellington,  of  the  3d,  or  Buffs, 
who  was  at  its  head. 

General  Macomb,  at  this  moment,  personal'.j  direct- 
ing the  movements  in  the  town,  soon  saw  that  the  ene- 
my's object,  in  making  so  much  more  r^i^  a  march  on 
its  west,  thr*a  on  its  north,  was  to  cut  on  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Appling  and  captrdn  Sproul's  detachments,  des- 
patched his  aid,  lieutenant:  Root,  with  orders  to  tho3e  offi- 
cers to  withdraw  their  /orces  from  Dead  creek,  to  join 
the  detachment  of  major  Wooli,  and  to  tall  upon  th^  ene- 
Hkj  s  r)^iit  flank.  Whilst  lieutenant  colonel  Appling  was 
procA  e<.iine  in  obedience  to  this  cd^r.  h  •  was  er^oun- 
tert^i;  on  uie  north  side  of  the  town,  by  the  light  ri^ivisions 
of  the  enemy's  1st  bri^de,  sent  for  the  purpose  of  cutting 
him  off*,  and  which  had  that  moment  emerged  from  the 
woods  Theiir  numbers  were  superior^  and  had  he  been 
delayed  an  instant  longer  on  the  Ijake  road,  he  must  in- 
evitably have  yielded.  Here  he  engaged,  but  after  a  short 
coiitest,  retired  before  them.  In  me  centre  of  the  town 
he  re-enga£ed  them,  and  bein;;  joined  by  r.»i?jor  Wooll, 
was  ordered  to  retire  to  the  American  works,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Haranac. 

The  retreat  was  effected  in  good  order,  and  covered 
by  a  ^uai^  of  120  men,  under  nantain  M^lassin,  of  the 
Rth  intantry;  the  deijich^ents  ©Itemately  retiring  and 


OF  THE  LATE  WAS* 


319 


hraugh 
J  oVher, 
•8,  who, 
J8,  W)  th 

li  gr^at- 
to  re- 
0  n?gu- 
beu  the 
irs  ako 
lotwith- 
md  pa- 
ir com- 
Major 
ig  join- 
Ty,  and 
ntinued 
mn,  and 
>r  Buffs, 

direct- 
he  ene- 
arch  on 
kant  co- 
»,  de&- 
i>3e  offi- 
to  join 
hvi  ene- 
ing  was 
er^oun- 
ivisions 
cutting 
om  the 
le  been 
lust  in- 
a  short 
e  town 
Wooll, 
e  south 

covered 
of  the 
g  and 


keeping  up  a  brisk  and  effectual  fire  upon  tlie  British  co- 
lumns. Having  reached  the  works  with  a  trifling  loss, 
general  Macomb  ordered  lieutenant  Harrison,  of  the  13th, 
under  the  direction  of  major  Wooll,  and  protected  by 
captain  Leonard's  artillery,  to  destroy  the  bridge  over  the 
Saranac. 

This  order  was  not  executed  without  some  difficulty. 
The  British  having  occupied  the  houses  near  the  bridge, 
with  their  liffht  troops,  kept  up  a  constant  fire  from  me 
windows,  and  wounded  lieutenants  Harnson  and  Turner, 
of  the  IStfj,  and  Taylor  of  ihe  34th.  These  troops  wore, 
however,  soon  after  dislodged  by  a  discharge  of  hot  shot 
from  the  American  works,  and  in  conjunction  with  the 
right  column,  were  engaged  the  remainder  of  the  day  in 
various  attempt"*  to  drive  the  euards  f  om  the  several 
bridges. — But  the  planks  had  all  been  taken  up,  and  be- 
ing placed  in  the  form  of  breastworks^  served  lo  cover  the 
American  lisht  parties  stationed  for  the  defence  of  the 
passages.  Tne  obstructions  which  h&d  been  thrown  in 
the  way  of  the  column  advancing  by  the  Lake  road,  and 
the  destruction  of  the  biitlse  over  Dead  creek,  greatly 
impeded  its  approaches,  and,  in  attempting  to  ford  the 
creek,  it  received  a  severe  and  destructive  fire,  from  the 
|im  boats  and  gallies  anchored  in  front  of  the  town. — 
But  not  all  the  ^Uies,  aided  by  the  armament  of  the 
vaole  fiotiUa,  which  then  lay  opposite  Plattsbui^,  under 
commodore  Macdonou^,  coula  have  prevented  the  cap^ 
ture  of  Macomb's  arr>y,  after  its  passage  of  the  Saranac^ 
had  sir  Grenrge  Pievost  pushed  his  whole  force  upon  the 
mar^n  of  that  stream.  Like  general  Drummond,  at  Erie, 
he  made  a  pause,  in  full  view  of  the  unfinished  works  of 
the  Americans,  and  consumed  five  days  in  erecting  bat- 
teries, and  throwins  up  breastworks,  for  the  protection  of 
his  approaches.  Of  this  interval,  the  America^  general 
did  not  fail  to  avail  himself,  and  kept  his  troops  constant- 
ly employed  in  finishing  his  line  of  redoubts.  Whilst 
Iboth  parties  were  thus  engaged  in  providing  for  the  pro- 
tection of  their  forces,  the  main  bouy  of  the  British  army 
came  up  with  the  advance;  and  general  Macomb  was 
also  reinforced  by  the  militia  of  New  York,  and  t^:^  vo- 
lunteers from  the  mountains  of  Vermont  Skirmishes 
between  li^t  detachments,  sallies  from  the  different 
works,  andtrequent  attempts  to  restore  the  bridges,  served 


3£0 


HISTOBICAI.  8KETCHB8 


to  amuse  the  besiegers  and  tne  besieged,  while  the  for- 
mer were  getting  up  a  train  of  battering  caiienon,  and  the 
latter  strengthening  their  lines,  and  preparing  to  repel  the 
attack.  In  one  of  these  skirmishes,  on  the  7th,  a  British 
detachment  making  a  violent  effort  io  obtain  possession 
of  the  pass  of  a  bridge,  H^as  handsomely  repulsed  by  a 
small  guard  under  lieutenant  Runk,  of  the  oth  infantry, 
who  received  a  musket  ball  in  his  body  and  expired  on 
the  following  day.  He  was  the  only  officer  killed  during 
the  siege. 

The  New  York  militia  and  Vermont  volunteers,  were 
now  principally  stationed  at  tiie  different  bridges  crossing 
tile  Saranac^  or  in  the  wood  opposite  the  fording  places. 
FroijA  these  positions  they  annoyed  the  enemy's  guards, 
and  poured  repeated  dischai^s  of  musketry  into  his 
masked  batteries. 

Two  pf  general  Macomb's  new  works  were  called  fort 
Brown,  and  fort  Scott,  and  opposite  the  former  it  was 
suspected,  a  very  powerful  masked  battery  had  been 
constructed,  in  order  suddenly  to  demolish  it  at  a  time  of 
general  attack.  To  tliscover  the  truth  of  his  suspicion, 
and  if  possible  to  destroy  or  mutilate  such  a  work,  cap- 
tain M^Slassin,  on  the  night  of  the  9th,  volunteered  his 
services,  to  ford  the  river  with  a  competent  detachment. 
His  enterprise  was  approved  by  the  general,  who  as- 
signed him  the  command  of  50  men. — With  these  the 
captain  succeeded  in  fording  the  river  nearly  under  fort 
Brown,  and  upon  gaining  me  opposite  shore,  proceeded 
with  great  secrecy  about  300  yards.  At^this  distance, 
from  the  mai^n  of  the  river,  he  encountered  a  guard  of 
150  men,  whom  he  instantly  encaged,  and  with  such  vi- 
gour and  address  as  to  deceive  mem,  with  respect  to  his 
own  force,  and  after  a  short  contest  to  drive  them  behind 
a  work,  which  he  discovered  to  be  the  suspected  masked 
battery.  Havine  succeeded  in  ^e  accomj^lishment  of  one 
of  the  objects  of  his  enterprise,  neither  captain  M'Glas- 
sin,  nor  his  brave  detachment,  could  think  of  returning 
to  the  army,  without  having  signalized  the  expedition  by 
some  act  more  important  in  its  consequences^  than  the 
putting  to  flight  an  enemy's  guard,  however  superior  in 
numbers.  He  accordingly  ie<l  up  his  detachment  to 
charge  upon  the  work,  into  which  the  British  ^ard  had 
fled,  ana  by  one  or  two  vigorous  onsets,  in  which  he  had 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB. 


321 


but  one  man  wounded,  he  carried  the  battery,  and  en- 
tirely routed  -its  defenders,  with  the  loss  of  their  com- 
manding officer  and  16  men  killed,  and  several  wounded. 
Being  now  in  possession  of  a  wofk,  which  would  have 
incalculably  annoyed  the  batteries  at  fort  Brown,  captain 
M'Glassin  destroyed  it  with  all  possible  haste,  and  re- 
turned to  the  American  works,  with  the  loss  of  3  men 
missing.  For  this  gallant  and  hazardous  essay,  which 
had  a  tendency  not  only  to  deceive  the  British  general 
with  re^rd  to  the  actual  force  of  general  Macomb's  army, 
and  to  msnire  the  troops,  militia  as  well  as  regulars,  with 
a  spirit  or  enterprise,  but  placed  a  principal  work,  fort 
Brown,  beyond  tiie  possibility  of  being  silenced,  captain 
M^Glassin  received  the  puUic  thanks  of  his  commanding 
officer,  and  tiie  brevet  rank  of  major  from  the  president 
of  the  ITnited  States. 

On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  the  motives  of  the  British 
general,  in  delaying  his  assault  upon  the  American  v/orks, 
became  apparent.  Being  assured  of  his  ability,  at  any 
time,  to  aestroy  them  by  a  single  effort,  he  was  regard- 
less of  the  manner,  in  which  they  mi^'^t  be  ^adually 
strengthened,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  British  s<][ua- 
dron  from  lake  Champlain,  in  co-operation  with  which, 
he  contemplated  a  general  attack,  and  the  easy  capture 
of  the  American  fleet  and  army.  On  that  day,  his  fleet/ 
consisting  of  a  lai^  frigate,  the  Confiance,  of  39  guns ; 
the  brig  Linnet,  of  16;  the  sloops  Chub  and  Finch  (for- 
merly tJhe  United  States*  sloops  Growler  and  Eagle)  of  11 
suns  each ;  and  13  gun  boats  and  row  gallies,  mounting 
m  all  95  guns,  and  having  a  complement  of  1050  men, 
made  its  appearance,  under  captain  Downie,  round  Cum- 
berland Head,  and  immediately  engaged  the  American 
squadron,  under  commodore  Macdonough,  then  moored 
in  Plattsburg  bay,  and  consisting  of  the  ship  Saratoga; 
the  brig  Eagle;  the  schooner  Ticonderoga;  the  sloop 
Preble ;  and  10  gun  boats,  mounting  alt(^ther  86  guns, 
(the  largest  vessel  carrying  26)  and  being  manned  with 
820  men. 

The  first  gun  from  the  Confiance  was  the  signal  for  a 
general  action,  and  sir  George  Prevost  instantly  opened 
nis  batteries  upon  the  works  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
Saranac.  A  tremendous  cannonade  ensued ;  bomb  shells 
and  Congreve  rockets  were  thrown  into  the  American 


322 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


lines  during  the  whole  day;  and  frequent,  but inef^ectua^ 
attempts  msule  to  ford  the  livsr.  At  a  bridge,  about  a 
mile  up  the  river,  an  attempt  to  throw  over  a  division  of 
the  enemy's  array,  was  handsomely  repulsed  by  a  detach- 
ment of  regulars;  and  an  eifort  to  force  the  passage  of  the 
bridge  in  tSe  town,  was  effectually  checked  by  a  party  of 
riflemen,  under  captavn  Grosvenfu*.  But  the  principal 
slaughter  took  place  at  a  ford  three  miles  from  the  works. 
There  the  enemy  succiieded  in  crossing  over  three  com- 
panies of  the  76th  resiment,  before  his  advance  waii  im- 
peded. A  body  of  volunteers  and  militia,  stationed  in  a 
contiguous  wood,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  them,  anct 
after  a  spirited  cohtest,  in  which  one  of  these  cwnpanies 
was  entirely  destroyed,  its  captain  killed,  and  three  lieu- 
tenants and  9.7  men  ma^e  prisoners,  those  who  had  at- 
tained the  shore,  fell  back  in  disorder  upon  an  approach- 
ing column,  then  in  the  middle  of  the  river.  The  receding 
and  advancing  columns  minsled  with  each  other,  and  be- 
ing closely  pressed  by  the  volunteers,  the  whole  body  was 
thro\ 'n  into  a  state  of  confusion,  from  which  the  officers 
could  not  recover  them ;  numbers  were  killed  in  the  8tr«»aw, 
and  the  dead  and  wounded  being  swept  along  by  the  lo^xe 
of  the  current,  sunk  into  one  common  grave. 

But  the  result  of  the  engagement  between  the  two  na- 
val armaments,  which  continued  upwards  of  two  hours,  in 
presence  of  the  contending  armies,  soon  determined  the 
action  upon  land.  Its  eflScts  were  sensibly  felt  by  the 
British  general,  whose  plaiis  were  completely  frustrated 
by  its  issue.  After  getting  round  Cumbcrlar  <1  Head, 
captain  Downie  anchored  his  fleet  within  S\)0  yar«i'^  of  the 
line  formed  by  commodore  Macdonough,  and  placing  the 
Confiance  frigate  iti  opposition  to  the  Saratoga;  the  Lin- 
net to  the  Eagle,  captain  Henley;  one  of  his  sloops  and  all 
his  gallies,  to  the  schooner  Ticonderoga,  lieutenant  com- 
mandai)t  Cassin,  and  the  sloop  Preble ;  his  other  sloop  al- 
t^rnat^y  attacking  the  Saratoga  and  Eagle.  Tlie  latter 
vessel  was  so  situated,  shortly  after  the  commencement 
of  the  action,  that  her  guns  could  not  be  brought  to  bear. 
and  captain  Henly  cut  ner  cable,  and  placed  her  between 
the  commodore's  ship  and  the  Ticonderoga,  from  which 
situation,  though  she  exposed  the  Saratoga  to  a  galUn^ 
fire,  she  annoyed  the  enemy's  squadron  with  much  ef- 
fect, ^me  minutes  after  10  o'clock,  nearly  all  the  guns 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


329 


ineffectual 
re,  about  a 
division  of 
J  a  detach- 
iftagc  of  the 

a  party  of 
£  principal 
I  the  works, 
three  corn- 
ice waii  iia- 
ktioned  in  a 

them,  luici 
>  companies 
I  threelieu- 
vho  had  at- 
n  approach- 
"he  receding 
her,  and  be- 
lle body  was 
I  the  officers 
1  the  str<»air, 
I  by  the  lu^ xe 

the  two  na- 
wo  hours,  in 
ermined  the 
felt  by  the 
r  frustrated 
AvA  Head, 
rai'i'*  of  the 
placing  the 
;a;  the  Lin- 
oops  and  all 
tenant  com- 
ber sloop  al- 

The  latter 
imencemcint 

ght  to  bear, 
her  between 

from  which 

to  a  galHng 
th  much  ef- 

all  the  guns 


on  tiie  starboard  side  of  the  Saratoga  beine  either  dis- 
mounted or  e/ntirdy  unmanageable,  commodore  Macdo- 
nouc)>  was  obliged  to  put  out  a  stem  anchor,  and  to  cut 
the  bower  cable,  by  which  means  the  Saratoga  winded  on 
the  enemy's  frigate  with  a  fresh  broadside,  which  being 
promptly  delivered,  the  Confiance  immediatedy  after  sur- 
rendered, with  105  round  shot  in  her  hull,  and  ner  captain 
and  49  men  killed,  and  60  wounded.  The  Saratoga  had 
55  round  shct  in  her  hull,  and  had  been  twice  set  on  fire 
hy  hot  shot  from  the  Confi  ace,  but  she  sustained  a  loss 
of  only  28  in  killed,  and  29  wounded,  notwithstanding  she 
mounted  13  guns  less^  than  her  antagonist.  The  Con- 
fiance  had  no  sooner  surrendered,  than  the  Sarato^*^ 
broadside  was  sprung  to  bear  upon  the  hn^  whose  nag 
struck  15  minutes  after.  Captain  Henley,  in  tiie  Eagle, 
had  already  captured  one  of  the  enemy's  sloops;  and  the 
Ticonden^  after  having  sustained  a  filing  fire,  caused 
the  surrender  of  the  remaining  vessel.  The  principal  ves- 
sels of  the  British  fleet  being  now  all  captured,  and  three 
of  their  row  sallies  sunk,  the  remaining  ten  escaped  from 
the  bay  in  a  mattered  condition. 

.  Among  the  officers  killed  on  board  the  Saratoga,  was 
the  1st  lieutenant,  Gamble;  and  on  board  the  Ticonde- 
roga,  lieutenant  John  Stansbury  (son  of  general  Tobias, 
Stansbury,  of  Maryland),  w!*;  was  shot  upon  mounting 
the  netting,  to  discover  in  what  manner  tne  guns  of  his 
division  might  be  brought  to  bear  more  eflfectually  upon 
one  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  Among  the  wounded  were 
lieutenant  SmifJi,  acting  lieutenhnt 'Spencer,  and  mid- 
shipman Baldwin.  The  tofjil  lopi  of  commodore  Macdo- 
nuugh's  squadron  amounted  to,  52  men  killed,  and  58 
wounded.  The  enemy's  loss  was,  84  men  killed,  110 
wounded,  and  856  prisoners,  who  alone  amounted  to  a 
greater  number  than  those  by  whom  Hiey  were  taken. 

The  capture  of  his  fleet  being  announced  to  sir  George 
Prevost,  he  immediately  withdrew  his  forces  from  the 
assault  of  the  American  works.  From  his  batteries,  how- 
ever, he  kept  up  a  constant  fire  until  the  dusk  of  the 
evening,  when,  being  silenced  by  the  wins  of  fort  Mo- 
reau,  under  colonel  M.  Smith,  and  of  forts  Brown  and 
Scott,  he  retired  within  the  town,  and  at  9  at  nighrt  sent 
off  km  artillery,  and  all  the  ba^;age  for  which  tie  could 


324 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHI^S 


obtain  tranftport.  About  midnight  he  made  a  disgraceful 
and  precipitate  retreat,  leaving  behind  him  all  his  sick 
and  wounded,  with  a  request  that  they  might  be  eene- 
rously  treated  by  general  Macomb.  At  daybreak  of  the 
12th,  this  movement  bein^  discovered  by  that  officer,  he 
immediately  despatched  his  light  troops,  and  the  volun- 
teers and  militia,  in  pursuit  The  enemy,  however,  had 
retired  with  such  celerity,  as  to  reach  Chazy  before  the 
pursuit  was  commenced,  and  a  violent  storm  prevent- 
*^d  its  continuance.  Immense  quantities  of  provisions, 
bomb-shelis,  cannon  balls,  grape-shot,  ammunition,  flints, 
intrenching  tools,  tents  and  marouees,  were  taken,  and 
upwards  of  400  deserters  surrendered  themselves  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  Besides  these,  sir  Geoi^e  lost  75  pri- 
soners, and,  as  nearly  as  could  he  ascertained,  about 
1500  killed  and  wounded;  amon^  them  several  officers 
of  ra^k.  The  loss  of  the  Amencan  army,  which,  with 
the  accession  of  the  volunteers  and  militia,  did  not  es:ceed 
2500  men,  amounted  to  37  killed,  62  wounded,  and  20 
missing.    . 

For  the  gallantry  which  they  displayed  in  tiiis  splendid 
engagement)  general  Macomb,  lieutenant  colonel  Appl'mg, 
majors  WoolT,  of  the  29th,  and  Totten,  of  the  engineers, 
whose  services  were  eminently  conspicuous  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  works,  and  captain  Brooks,  of  the  artil- 
lery, received  the  brevet  rank  of  the  grades  next  above 
those  which  they  held  on  the  day  of  the  action.  Captain 
Young,  of  the  15th,  had  been  put  on  board  the  squadron, 
with  a  detachment  of  infantry,  to  act  as  marines;  and 
for  his  coolness  and  intrepidity,  in  a  species  of  service 
distinct  from  that  to  which  he  was  attached,  was  also 
brevetted.  Captain  Grosvenor,  of  the  infantry,  and  the 
brigade  major,  lieutenant  Duncan,  of  the  artillery,  were 
conspicuous  for  their  zeal  and  activity  throughout  the 
engagement;  the  latter  was  chained  with  the  delivery  of 
the  despatches  to  the  war  department.  Promotions  took 
place  also  in  the  navy,  and  commodore  Macdonough  was 
immediately  elevated  to  the  rank  of  post  captain. 

The  investment  of  fort  Erie  was  all  this  time  continued ; 
the  troops  of  the  garrison  were  actively  engaged  in  the 
completion  of  me l>astions,  and  of  the  abattis  on  the  right 
flank;  and  the  besiegers  employed  in  the  erection  of 
additiomtl  batteries,  intended  to  enfilade  ^e  western  ram- 


'"I 


OF  THfi  LATS  WAR* 


325 


lisgraceful 
1  his  sick 
t  be  eene- 
iak  of  the 
officer,  he 
the  volun- 
i^ever,  had 
before  the 
ft  prevent- 
provisions, 
tion,  flints, 
taken,  and 
lives  in  the 
lost  75  pri- 
led,   about 
ral  officers 
ivhich,  with 
not  exceed 
ed,  and  20 

lis  splendid 
^el  AppJ'ng;, 
engineers, 
in  the  con- 
)f  the  artil- 
next  above 
Captain 
B  squadron, 
irines;  and 
of  service 
,  was  also 
'y,  and  ttie 
lery,  were 
iighout  the 
delivery  of 
tions  took 
ugh  was 
in. 

continued; 

d  in  the 

tiie  right 

rection  of 

stem  ram- 


ft&rlft  ^  ^  Alif^rkan  woifl».  0«nj»r«l'BHM  htfd  i^^ 
turned' to  the.  post,  arid  resutti^  th«  cominftiid  ctf  tli^ 
army/  Mrhiel^  mid  beciii '  in  ^t  ikieantiii^  reiiiforcfid  #f 
n«w  letiesel  aiifitia.  Abot^ibe  iniddle  #a^biiln6er, 
aftef  thet|e  irrangeiheirts  fi^ere  completed,  mTstuiiiipt  to 
dlslbdgie  ^  enemy  #on^  big  ml^nched  works,  «qid  i^ 
deprive  bim  of  tlie'mtons  of  aihtoj^g  the^g^^  ^^^ 
detei^ined  oto.  A  soirtte  was  plintin^,  lOia  the  mormiig 
of  t^  ifd^  appointed  for^its  cix:ecutiori.  XiieiQt^niitits 
Riddle  and  mz<6n  of  Ifie  ]5th  infthtrj,  had  already 
opened  a  r^ad  frbmf  the  sottthei^  at^e  i^f  the  earridoii, 
to^  a  pokit  withm  pitstol  shot  of  the  enemy's  ridit  wijiig^ 
Und  vtit^  slicib  set^^y,  th&t  it  was  not  didco^erecFunlil  ]^e 
actii^  ^  assault  bomiAented.  About  noon,  the  regul^, 
infiuilir^,  and  tifl^m^»  and  the  volunteers  aiid  militia, 
weit'  in  readiness  to*  march  ^^iild  befori^  o'clock,  the 
sortie  was  mad«*  llie  division  issuing  ihmi  the  lef^wa^ 
tommanded  by'  fflaitepal,Pbfter,  and  composed  of  «Gb 
rHIemen  and^  a  fe^  Ibaians,  ubder  colonftt^t^it,.  and 
two  columns,  the  ridi^  commantled  W  lieutenant  colonel 
Weod,  and  the  left  b«  brigl^i«|^  pri6tt4r)i)^^  of  the 
New  York  militia.  Thesej  cohmiis  #«f%  conducted 
through  ^e  ^oods  by  lieutenaikts  judtfie  ai|d  Frtizer,i^ 
approached  upc^  tlie  cnemy**iiet«f  b«tt«a^jptt^ 
with  such  rftpidity,  as  to  durprisie  th«  bf^ad^imonea  |l 
his  line.  His  batteries,  Nos.  3  and  4,  wet>e  g4|iantfy 
stormed)  and  a^r  30  minutes  close  action,  both  carried. 
Colonel  Gib8on»  iind  lieutenant  colonel  Wood,  fell  at Uie 
head  of  their  columns^  almp^t  at  ^e  onset,  and  the  re- 
spective commands  devolved  upon  ll^iitcnaiant  coloh^ 
M'DiHiald  and  major  Brooks. 

A  block  house  m  the  rear  of  battery  No.  3,  was  alio 
carried,  and  its  garrison  made  prisoners.  Thi*6e  24* 
pounders  and  their  carriages,  were  destroyed,  and^idftef 
the  prisoilers  wer^  jetured,  and  the  American  columni 
mo v^d  beyond  its  influence,  lieutenant  kiddte  descend- 
ed ji^to  the  mi^zihe,  and  first  taking  out  a  quantity  of 
fixed  ammunition,  set  fire  to  a  l^ain  leading  to  several 
barrels  of  powder;  The  explosion  took  place  much 
sooner  than  the  lieutelnant  expected,  and  not  faNSiiig  ablt 
to  escape  in  time,  he  was  covesred  with  ^le  combusti- 
bles ana  fra^ehts  of  the  maeftzine,  from  which  he  |p|9 
extricated  with  the  titmost  difficulty.    At  the  moinent  bf 

Ee 


I! 


3S6 


UISTORICAI^  SKETCHES 


• 

this  explosion,  the  right.division  of  the  troops  which 
had  been  statiQned'.  in  the  ravine  between  the  f<^rt  and 
the  ^,eneoiy*s  works,  under  ^neral /Miller,  with  orders 
not  to  attack,  iintil  generM  Porter  had  engms^d  ike  ene- 
my's right  flank,  first  came  up  to  the  assaulC  and  in  co^ 
operation  with  colonel  Gibson's  column,  pierced  the  Bri- 
tish intrenchments,  between  their  batteiies  Nos.  S  ^ind  3, 
and  after  a  severe  contest,  carried  the  former..  In  this 
assault,  brigadier ^neral  Davis,  of  the  New  Yo^  militia, 
fell  at  the  head  ofms  corps.  The  enemy's  second  block- 
house, his  batteries  2  and  3,  and  his  unfinished  battery 
No.  4,  with  the  intervening  breaatworic^  and  intrcjicii- 
nptents,  beins  now  all  in  tiie  possession  of  the  Americans, 
gifeljberai  JdilTer's  division  inclined  towards  the  river,  with 
a  view  ti^^sail  his  battery  No.  1,  erected  ^tthie  Mtremi- 
tyii^fhi?  left'j||ank,  A%this  point,  the  enemy  made  a 
much  bolder  and  more  obstinate  resistance*  There,^^ 
defences  were  constructed  wit!i  #ie  most  studie^  intriqa- 
cy;  breastworks  had  been  thrown  up,  connecting  his  first 
find  seconcl  battery;,  successive  lines  of  intrenchmi^nti 
intersected  each  other  f^  ilearly  j|.hundred  jTfirds  in  thei 
rear ;  imd|b ws  of  aba^i$an4;timbjpry  planted  in,  4^uitiplicd 
involutions,  formed  iiipediments  to  the  abroach  ol?  the 
assailants,  [induced  fome  confusicp  ih  the  column,  And 
■jE^e  conitant  appeals  to  the  bayonet  necesaftrv.  Before 
geneFalMiller  attempted  this  movement  upon  the  ba|;ttery 
near  €[ie  water,  getteml  Brown  had  ordered  up^  ^lierai 
jpipley  with  the  resefrve,  comprised  of  the  Slst  re^ipent, 
under  lieutemmt  colonel  Uphpn,  and  desired  him,  as  the 
seniot*  officer  in  advance,  to  ascertain  the  eeneral  situa- 
tion of  the  troops,  aiid  withdraw  the^^  from  thc^ene- 
my's  works,  as  soon  aathe  object  of  tlu^  sortie,  the  de- 
struction of  his  batteries,  was  effected.  The  reserve,  in 
dhedience  to  this  order,  promptly  advanced  to  the  sup- 
port of  Miller's  column,  and  came  into  tiie  en^a^ment 
as  the  enemy's  force  was;  strengthened  fvom  ma  en- 
campment. This  column  was  composed  Of  die  9th, 
die  11th,  and  p^t  of  the  19th  infantry  j  the  first  being 
commanded  by  lieutenant  colonel  Aspinwall,  who  lost 
iiis  left  aj-min  the  assaultj  and  fe  last,  bv  major  Trim- 
ble, who  was  dangerously  shot  through  the  body.  Under 
the  iijAmediate  direction  of  the  same  ^aillant  leader  wHo 
had  carried  the  cannon,  upon  the  eminence  at  Lundy's 


pa   which 
I  fdrt  and 
ith  orders 
d  the  ene- 
and  in  CO* 
d  the  Bri- 
B.  S|ind3, 
c    In  this 
)fk  militia, 
opd  block- 
idi  battery 
I  intrcpch- 
^mericans, 
river,  with 
!€}  extremi- 
iT  made  a 
There,  Ilia 
iedintrioa- 
LDghisfimt 
renchmf^nti 
,rd8  in^^ei 
lihultiplicd 
oach  (»-  the 
olumn,  and 
Before 
ie  battery 
ttpr  general 
b  regii|ient, 
him,  aa  the 
neral  situa- 
m  thfi^ene- 
tie,  &e  de- 
reserve,  in 
to  the  siip- 
HEgagemei^t 
«n  ma  en- 
jf  the  9th, 
first  being 
1,  who  lost 
najor  Tiim- 
iy.    Under 
leader  who 
at  Lundy*8 


07  THE  LAf  E  WAR.  *^ 


$s^ 


lane,  and  aided  bf  lieuten&nt  colonel  Upbatn,  with  ^' 
21st  and  part  of  the  17tK,  it  tnade  a  rapid  charge  ifpon^ 
and  stormed  the  remaining  birttety,  whicih  was  inatantly 
abandoned  by  the  British  ih&ntry  ahd  ariiUerjr.  Qen^m 
Ripley  the|i«oiMered  a  line  to  be'fohttied  in  front,  for  the 
protection  of  th6  detachments,  engaged  in  apiking  the 
enemy|a  gima,  and  d^olifthing  mc  captured  #drk9* 
Thia  line  he  determined  alao  to  atrength^n,  in  ^itder  ta 
annoy  ^e  rear  of  general  Drummond'a  retreating  forejell, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  fovwarding  jtheae  aTratogementa, 
when  he  received  a  daageroua  wound  in  the  neck;  and 
fell  by  the  aide  vif  major  l3rook,  oC,  the  23d,  whoae  cokn- 
ma;na  waa  at  that  moment  engaged  with  a  detachnieot 
on  the  enemy'a  right.  Hia  aid,  lieutenant  Kirfoy.  ctjuM^ 
him  to  bb  remidVed  to  the  ^rriaon,  and  gene^,  Mmf 
having  ordered  the  right  wing  to  fall  baek,  tne  trobpa 
upon  the  left,  were  ahortly  after  recalled!;  tnd  the  opertp 
^na  ceased,  with  the  accompliahment  of  all  the  ofagecta 
ofthe;al^e,  *^  ■,^: 

,  The  troopa  then  returned  to  the  ^rr^wik,  with  their 
priionera,  jjPfd  jnanx  ^plUi^fi  of  #ieir  valour;  snd  dn 
the  third  My  afjter;  lii^  tenatit  glsnei^l*  Orutn||^i#r  ^<l^ 
had  been  Joined  before'  the  lo|%e4y  w^xf  ^neral  De^ 
Wattevilleiind  Stovin,  broke  up  hia  encanaj|inent,  raia^ 
the  8iege,a^'ha8tily  Retired  Ifj^  addk 

tion  ti>^  "ti^e  jiwa  ef  nearly  all  hia  cannon,  hie  force  v^  i 
agal^re^iiieed  ^  least  1000  men;  notwlthatlndiQif 

the  rciiiKs  of  4irdaya^inceBiant  mi  were  deatrittyea, 
and^ll  Of  his  diceMi>an4  374  cf  hib  non-eonlmianoluil 
officera  and  privatei  niiail|^|>Hson^,  atid  traiiaferred  to 
the'  American  |)|ore;  he  called  the  etent  a  vejlNflae  of  an 
Anleitean  armM*  5000  meUL  by  an  ineohaidei^Ae  ititm- 
ber  of  Britiah  troops.  Incli^iiig  Jho  lifintei  f Irea^.  iiien- 
tioned,  general  Ifeown'a  amity  iMt  10  oflieiers'%lkd  70  lyit^ 
pied;  m  eiiieera  and  I9a  Vended  $  aotd  IQ  O^ri  Aiid 
2l)d  jnii^lilgMti  aU  310.  AmOng  A«  k|lte^  Wer«  tiito* 
taint  Armi«Mli  of  tfit"  ril|i^e«rp0>  I&ll 'bT  the  llth-m- 
fiptry;  Bridf^,  Of  tHe  Slftt  i^fiititry Vand  iKiel,  of  the 
f0lupleers-^*j^^aign  <>f ^Hg^  of  the  Wk  kHmtry,  im  oiB- 
cer  Of  rafeitt  merit, jHliaidu^tiantsB^  -^^  BetthUp,  1^ 
Biaktiffii^fi  thJe  v<^tfteera#;  But  loaa  of  the  thr# 
leadera  («f  the  eiiltann^  ecbi^oti.  iff#  lefti^ergien4||i'?>» 
Porter^  di^aibn',  was  senaibly  felt 'tnroUgjkdvC  ^e  arny. 


t 


^2$ 


UlSTOjRICAL  8K£T€U£8 


6<»iieF^]  Davit  had  watered  the  service,  with  a  regiment 
^,|>atkiotic.  Tolui^teers  from  the  county  of  GenetBee,  and 
ve^ry  goon  distingiii^hed  himself  by  the  industrious  facili- 
^  with  which  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  military  move- 
menta,  and  ^s  coolness  in  the  execution  of  ihem.  The 
condufit  of  lieutenant ,  colonel  Wood,  general  Porter  re- 
wesefited  tp  be  *'what  it  uHiforiDly  had  been,  an  exhi- 
bition of  military  skill,  aciito  j^Ajgoient,  and  heiaoic  v^ 
lour," 

.It  waa  in  tlie  act  of  storming  the  2di  battery,  a|id  at  the 
head  of  his  deta^ment  thatcohjmol  Oibson  received  the 
mortal  wound,  which,  on  the  loliowin^  day,  closed  his 
military  career,  and  deprived  the  service  of  a  generous 
an^nillant  soldier.  He  had  entered  the  army  as  a  cadet, 
at^est^Oint,  in  180iS;  and,  by  the  force  and  vigour  of 
his  military  g^pius,  had  elevated  hiinsdf  to  the  rank  of 
c4p&in,  at  the  jleclaratidii  of  war.  Between  that  period  and 
tl^  4aY  on  which  he  fell,  at  the  moment  of  his  triumph 
^>ver  the  enemy,  he  had  filled  several  stations  of  honour 
and  ^eat  re^^sibllity.  He  had  been  entrusted  with  the 
superintendance  of  the  recruiting  4^trict,  received  Uie 
^iQmil|P|in  ^f^  inspector  general,  and  was  Unally  pro- 
linotefi  to  the  command  ipplhe  40i  tUIc  r^ment.  ISiQ 
<)fllc^  viras  il^ld  in  <J»pre  general  estimation,  by  the 
>ps ;  anj|  lo  ^^ix^uis^cT  had  been  his,.|quious  and 
it  slices,  ^t  a  i^iHtary  work,^erected  neju:  BUiek 
,  #a8  long  ^ince  ordered  to  be  called  f<^ft  Ojibsoo* 
Soon  after  the  enemy  had  been  thjis  compelled  to 
t^m  the  «i»g^  M  fort«  Erie,  the  garnpon  jTas  enlarged  by 
the  arrive^  .of  the  rigjit;  division,  uj^roiajpr  general 
l^£d,  who  8i^)^sed«^,  general  Brown  ^  the  eommnd 
of  i|^  Wi?»y»  ,  Tte  a^^icession  of  thi»  dfvisioq,  ana  the 
stre^^  of  the  d^enpfs,  whieh  were  a^  by  this  tin^e  en- 

t,  ^  BO^e-^  iiiem  gai)iisWd  with  heavy  cannon^  ^ren- 
edforiPiip  impw^aW^  to  the  attacks  ^  any  other 
th^  a  vastly  sHneEii»r  lop^e;  ands  the  t^onth,  intervening 
betMfi8^i>  <hie  im  of  Septmh^  *n4  the  I8i^^>f  October, 
wp  <po¥^i^t|y  eiof^oy^:  ^drilling  and  harmoniwi^ 


werii  ^eiposited  for  the  use  of^^  ^ri<liii^4>c^i 
*  iisard  directed  general  Bissell,  commanding 


t 


6#  'irUn  tA>r*  tTAA.  • « 


M9 


regiment 
i«Bee.  ajid 
otts  faciU- 
ftry  piaov€- 
Bm.  The 
Porter  re- 
1,  an  iexhi- 
leeojic  v^ 

apdAttihe 
reived  the 
closed  bis 
I  generous 
as  a  cadet, 
i  vigour  0^ 
^e, rank  of 
period  and 
s  triumph 
of  honour 
»a  with  the 
ceived  the 
inally-  pro- 
nent,  No 
n,  by  the 
irious  and 
ie»x  Black 

Gjihson* 
dpelled  to 
il^rged  by 
\r  general 
xomni^nd 
,  awl  the 
8  tiine  en- 
nnou*-ren- 
ipy  other 
iterv^ning 
'October, 

In  th« 
»  briinch 

%i^n  of 
lihtroQ^r 
mmanding 


the  Sd  brigade  ef  the  1st  diiri8ion»  to  march  thither  and 
seize  themi  Ob;  thfe  18th  he  proceeded  on  the  expi^i- 
tion/tnd  <i^r  dnthig  in  a  picquet  guard",  and  capturfhs 
its  coniinandinj  ofiicerr,  he  threw  iwo  lisht' comikiEaiieS 
under  ciaptain  Dorman,  of  the  5^,  Und  m^ifena|irHor<^' 
rell,  of  the  1 6th  infantry,  and^  a  eobpany'^  Hflieme]^^ 
uiid^  «af»tain  Irvine,  across  Lyon^s  6r«ek^  ftnd  etiduifjped 
for  the  iligtit  ^^th  pit^iiet '  guards  stafioiied  at  propef 
distanees.  One  of  trtescj  commanded  by  1i<*uteiiant  Qias^ 
saway,  and  statiohed  <on  the  C^hippen^a  road;  wad  attack- 
ed^f  two^  companies  of  the  OlihigaHr  Hght  infantry,  whfch 
were  beat  ofl?  with  toss.  On  the  fotlowiti^  niorni^  ISlir 
brigadi^was  attacked  by  a  force  of  IWOm^iM^'cth 
\otaA  the  ntaitjuts  of  Tweedftle.  Captaiti  D^hiiaii's  W 
foatry^and;frvine*s  riflemen,  rec^^ed  thfe  first  fi#%  of  th^' 
enemyl^nd  su^tlEdited  It  with  the  greatest  gallantr^^  whilbf 
ten^rarBiBMli  was  fbmii%' afitf  brinsing  up  the-  bth# 
trttops  40  tli^if  support  Colbnel  PincKne^.,  wtft  th^  50| 
regio^^l,  was  o^ered  to  tum  the  enemy^a^ght  iianl^/ 
and:  tb  etk  off  a  pl^e  of  artUtery  which  he  Ified  Just  ^#jir 
broight  Into  aetioti;  whikt  ma^r  Hariiard,  with  the  14tl^' 
was  t6  charge  them  in  front  These  fnoVeiHt^^ht^  were 
iniitetitlyielfectedi '  The  enemT*8  leftflafnk  and  his  ted^e, 
sniik%ndeT  thfe  fire  oi  coirps  d*dUte;'^dAhe  infiemettt  aUd 
the^^rge  of'the>t4thi  and  hisH^htflaMdc  Was  turned  im- 
iteediately  after,  by  ^e  tapid  and  iforcible  nioyetiient^^df 
the  3thi  The  recbit  of  his  linfe,  and  the  approach'^df  tKi^ 
Am^caA  reserve,  composed  of  the  15th,  under  mly[or 
Grintibfe,  and  th^'t6th,  under  isolon^l  P^i'ce,  ito  ^fo^ce 
the  sirbeess  of  the  main  body,  was  116  sooner  perceived  by 
the  marquis,  than  he  ordered  his  troiops  to  retire  from  th^ 
grouild  on  which  they- had  enga^d  genieral  Bbsell^<tnd, 
expectiiiff  to  draw  that  officer  after  him,  fell  back  to  his 
fortifications  at  the  mou^  of  the  river.  As  his  retreat 
was  made  without  much  regard  to  order,  dl  his  killed, 
and  most  of  his  wounded,  were  left  behind.  He  #a8  pu^ 
sued  but  a  small  distance,  when  general  Bissell,  in  coh-i 
formity  to  his  instructions,  destroyed  the  provisions  at 
t^e  mills,  and  returned  to  his  position  at  Black  creek, 
haviAg  effected  the  ofalect  of  his  expedition,  with  the  lofis 
of  67,  killed,  wounded  and  mtssingi. 

lire  whole  army,  with  Uie  ejcception  of  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Hindman's  artillery,  to  whom  the  command  of  fort 

E  e  2 


HP 


990 


HISTOBlHAIf  |«||9!jC9»S 


Brie,  and  iho  wopkf«  v«ft  strutted,  was  n«w  opemtiaff 
in  t^  vifunity  of  Bliick  creak  and  €l>ip|iewa«  Its  ttan' 
liad  mn  reduce^  bj  the  removal  of  general  Bipley  to  the 
American  «hove»  aiter  being  weui^ed,  and  the  tran«fer 
of  Mneral  Breern  ^  Sacket^a  Harbour,  and  of  general 
Miliaria 3<^n.  Immediataly  after  thr repulae  of  the. 
jUamnii^of  .Tveedalo*  general  Izard  dlriN:ted  ita  f et«m 
to  tJ9e  gairrwont  whenca,  aa  the  weather  waa  ahonl^  this 
time  ae^ngin  eitrfuaely  cold,  ^nd  the  aeason  having  ar<- 
rired  whOA  h<^tUitiea  uamilly  ceased,  it  iraa  determined 
t»  transport  it  to  the  A^mmw  ahpre,  to  wippjf  ^  troo^ 
w^hi  v^  oom^oHable  wintar  quartera.  c  T^e  fort  wae 
apfcohiiiig^y  destroyed;  and  all  the  batteries  demoltiihed ; 
and  aftar  A^orpua  and  brilUant  campaign  of  four  fnondis, 
the  Qanad^  territot^  was  evacuat^  and  the  aitny^dia- 
lydbnted  in  quartera  at  Buiihloe, Ulackliiick, and  mta- 
iflb.  l%e  FOiuhteera'^andvfiititht  were  dischargied,  with 
the^  thairi^a  of  the  giayemmant;  and  general  Porter  i?acet«ed 
yi^rjogs  teatoonialaof  approbatiou  and  applanae  froiiK^e 
ataxia  ^  wbiich  he  belong,  for  hia  constant  display  of 
by^fiy^and  the  h^  degree  of  discipline  which  he  main- 
ta^ed^W  command.        . 

'  Whilst  theae  eventsi  w^re  transpiring  between  the  n^tisH 
era  army,  and  Jie  #«niea  o^  Hentenant  ^^peral  Dmro- 
mond  and  aii?  Oianige  Fravo^  an  expedition  had  been 
ttted  ont  in  the  nor^wett^iefRintry,  under  the  imHed 
Gobmaiid  of  c^mmfldom;  Sinclair,  with  the  Ueet  u^n^lake 
Erie,  and  lieutanant ^colonel  tCro^n,  with  adetachment 
of'aill^leij  and  infeuitry«  ^  act  againaib  the  fort  and  island 
of  Michilintackinacf  Biit  the  expedition  &ilcd,  noiwith^ 
staiiding  the  fkillandgaUantry  of  die  oncers  engaged  in 
H;  and  tli^  tfloopa  remd  from  the  island,  after  having 
aibcted  a  landing,  ^^  the  loss  of  the  second  oiker, 
mi^  iMmaa,  of  tho  9^.  infantry.  The  enemy  apprised 
xf  the  movement,  appeared  in  laiPse  numbers  to  recast  it 
and  being  protected  ny  breastworka,  and  aided  by  a  body 
of  Indians,  exceeding  the  strength  of  /colonel  Croghan'a 
detachment,  that  intrepid  young  offi^cer  was  compelled  to 
withdraw  hia  forces,  and  return  t^^  the  shipmns;.  On  hia 
way  to  th¥  island,  however,  he  diatroyed  the  6rt  St,  Jo- 
seph's, and  the  enemy';S  eat«Mishniei>t  at  Sainlt  8t,  Manx's. 
The  losaof  the  detachment  in  ^o.  expedition  amounted  to 
60,  kilM,  wounded  and  missing; 


'OV  TKB  £ATB'%^'B'««  ti 


Bit 


peratinff 
Its  %m 
ty  to  the 
tn»i«fer 
general 
e  of  the- 

^itt  titis 

tenuined 

fort  wft« 


rfdonthe, 
pMlBntfl- 

pNl,  with 

fpoMi^e 
Uapl^yof 
hf  maan- 

pNnofftb^ 

hud  b^ei} 
leimiHcd 

fea^hm«nt 

Qd/»)ftQ4 

notrwith' 
igaged  in 
sr  naving 
d  office, 
afifirlaed 
Tenstit, 
!7»*>ody 
!?ro|han*» 
tp^lled  t9 
.  Onhi9 
rtStJo- 
t,JManr^«. 
(mntedto 


After  leaving  the  island,  commodore  Sinclair  stationed 
two  of  his  Bchoonera,  the  Tigresi  and  Scorpion,  near  St. 
Joaejph^,  to  cut  off  all  supplies  for  the  British  nrrifton  at 
Michilimackinac.  Lieutenant  colonel  M'Do^ali,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  garrison,  supplied  lieutenant  Worsiev,  of 
the  navy,  with  250  Indians,  and  &  detachment  of  the  Mfew- 
foundland  reeimeflt,  with  whom,  and  1S6  sailors,  he  at- 
tacked the  schooner  on  tie  9tli  of  September.  After  a 
severe  strurale,  in  which  lie  lost  a  very  disproportionate 
numbei>of  lulled  and  wounded,  he  carried  the  vessels,  and 
proceeded  witk  theiix  io  Bficlttttiaaicfcinac.  ^ 

-  (hi  the  SS2dof  the  ibllowing  monlh,  brigadier  general  * 
M*Arthiir,  hairing  collected  790  eflfectivo  regulars  and  mi- 
li%,  proceeded  on  aaeci^t  expeditiiiB,  along  the  western 
ahoife  of  lake  8i  Ckttr,  and  passed  into  the  C^nkdiaB  ter- 
ritory^ ai. the  month  cf  thatwatoK  He  penetrated  iWK)  \ 
miloflfwi  the  enemy^  country;  deetrayed  more  than  that  { 
number  of  muskets ;  "i  tt:tcked  a  large  body  of  nHlitift  and  - 
Indians,  encamped  on  ^ivotii^able  eround>.made  about  150 
priaoAers:. «und  dippei'^ed  att^ihcr  mtachmenls  to  be  found 
at  lihe  'fnames^.  usford#^or  Orand  Biven  Dtting  the 
i|»aiK:h^  he' principally  subsisted  on  the  enemy*  and  ifed 
«ev^  of  the  tiaillH.  from  ,w|dch  the  Briiish  troops  iii  Up- 
pm  &iamh,  went  supplied  wiilh  feod»  HairiBg  Mmed  in- 
t0lliigi€iiM»Qf^tiie  evacaatioiBi  of Jbrt^firie^he  jihMienedi bio 
blt^on  of  iproceedins  to^BlMryngtoii;  1^  and  fe* 

tallied  to  EtetiMft  OB  jUie  l!7tfati»f  Noy^^ 
expedlti^,  &  eniemy^  hotiite;  intcntiojk  wets  diveried  . 
fromiEno^er  quarter^  and  his  nieanaofattaoldn^jBf;!^^  \ 
enlil^y  orip|»Md ;  the  destnidioar«f *  bla  aitpi^s  renderA  I 
ing  such  an  ati^pt  aHo^elher  impNctstable.  ^ 


1 


I 


mm 


3d£ 


HISTORIOAX.  SKETCHES 


m 

4ii 


i 


•^■•^   .  H 


GHAFTEft  XXI. 


Repealed  engagements  hetwetM  th«  ^^tm  botA  JUnHUa  ofu^ 
f  ite  Britigh  'oessdg  in  the  Pxtaxent'  ^kden^tf^ 
Capture  of  Washingttyn^iJfdkxaind^  ty^ 

Peter  Park^p^^^mttek  vptni  Ba^more^^ihaih  ef  j^ 
nertd  Eoss,  and'  r^niiu  of  Mi  arim>^BhBi^ade  'OtB'' 
^aiegftof  Mv^  9rlMn»^B^ai&9fme;  BiriHakfore^ 
tkere^Terfiiinaiim  eftheW&nby  u>  Treahft^^eoeef 
mid'Jlmity^nigeitk^mat'Ohenti  .    *f^ 

on  Ihe  easterti  coasts  during  ^eiBUBiiiiep  wlol4,  ^^ci 
dre^v  beffli  li'aced  -rto  the  occupalioh.  pif  tfiastpct^  ftftd* 
Ga8tkiie»  m^the besiiAiiiiij^  of  SenfeCiitifoen«  Ui^'^eir  '^mi 
tionb  alepg<  tiie  moFd».  of  iSke\^lx^t»eak^)»f,  w^HuK 
sdutheni  emit,  tHey?  iikave  iidt  be4iifMNwed'biByo}id#iik< 
at^k  upon  ^SkkA^^fmiii^i^ 

c^ttne.  At'tliatiienoe^Vi'floti^  con^stiiiigif^l  &  toittvr^ 
W0  ^n  boats,  agailey/andrnine  kiige  barges,  sail^^^JFroiii 
Balibmore^  under  coninibdore  Bikmej,  for  the  protectioB^ 
of  the  InletF  and  (u^bours  m  tJtei»ev«l«li {puts  ot<  the  biPjr. 
On  the  let  June,  beioe  at  the  liMMitik;  of  tite  Patuxeat,  the 
commodore  diBGOvered  two  schtmners,  one  of  which  car- 
ried 18  guns,  uid  immediately  gave  chase.  The  srhoo^ 
ners  were  joined,  however,  by  a  large  ship,  which  des- 
patched numbers  itf  barges  to  their  ase^stance,  and  the 
commodore,  ia  danger  m  being  cut  off  from  the  Poto- 
mac, sigOaled  his  flotilla  tn  «ail  up  the  Patuxent.  In  the 
river  he  engajsed  the  schooners  and  the  barees,  and  after 
be&fing  them  off  with  hot  shot,  he  anchoreti  within  thi^e 
miles  of  a  74,  stationed  at  its  mou^.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  days  the  enemy  was  reinforced  by  a  razee  and  a  sloop 
of  war,  and  joining  the  barges  of  tiitse  vessels,  to  those 
witk  which  they  had  alreacfy  engaged  commodore  Bar- 


(If  THE  IJLXK  WASU 


443 


i.*-.v..-. 


4, 


rt  and* 


tection^ 

m^  mn' 
ch  car- 

6rho<v> 
;h  des- 
nd  the 
!  Poto- 

In  the 
d  after 
n  thi^e 
se  of  a 
El  sloop 
those 
Bar- 


\ 


aey,  ^ley  followed  his  flotilla  into  St  I^onardV  creek, 
two  n^iies  above  the  month  of  which,  his  ^n  (Mats  aod 
barg^  were  formed  ia  Uqe  of  batt)<$,  ^cross  the  ehaaneii. 
From  this  point  the  commodore  eQ^ged  ihe«i,  and  see^ 
i^g  atlisposition  to  fall  back,  he  immediaJ^jr  bor0  down, 
put  t^m  to  flij^t,  and  pursued  them  to  within  a  short 
diftancw.of  theur  shipping  which  consisted  oi  a  €(hip,  a 
brigy  and,  two  schooners,  Jn  ii«iE^  aftfuriioon  of  the  lOtb, 
the  enemy  made  another  attempt  upon  th^  flo^a,  with 
twenty  barges  and  the  two  schooner^.  The  commodio^ 
immeaiately  moved  upon  them,  and  after  a  smart  fire, 
drove  the  barges  down  ic^'  the  11^  gun  vessel,  which,  i»  at^ 
tempting  to  beat  out,  was  ao  severely  hani^J^d,  that  her 
cre%v  r^  her  aground  and  abandoned  ner. 

These  atteni^cfts  upon  the  flotilla  were  constantly  re- 
peated, and  its  olockade  in  St.  l^eonandV  continued  until 
the  2^;  on  the  morning  of  which  day,  a  combined  at- 
tack w'a  corps  of  artillery,  tirhich  had. been  despatched 
from  Washington  to  its  assistance,  a  detachment  of  the 
marine  corps,  and  the  flotilla  itselC  was  made  upon  the 
whole  squadrnp,  among  which  were  two  frigates.  The 
action  continued  upv/ai^s  of  two  hours,  ai^,  terminated 
i^  diiving  ihe  enemy  from  his  anchorage.  His  ^ips  stood 
doi^n  the  river,  and  commodore  Barney  finding  the  block- 
ade raised,  sailed  out  of  St  Leonard's,  and  proceeded  up 
the  Patuxent 

The  British  squadron,  at  the  difierent  actions  in  the 
Chesapeake,  were  now  every  day  augmented,  by  arrivals 
of  transports  mnd  ship^s  of  tKe  Une  troya  S^)and,  The 
cessation  of  hostiUUes  which  had  taken  place  in  EujTope, 
enabled  the  Bfitish  ^vernment  to,  send  out  powerful  re-> 
inforcements  to  their  fleets  and  armies  already  on  tiie 
4?oast,  and  admiri^l  sir  Alexander  Cochrane  had  been  des- 
patched with  upwards  of  30  sail,  having  on  board  aii  furmy 
of  several  thousand  men,  under  major  general  RosSf"— 
This  force  entered  the  ChOsapeake  \n  the  course  of  the 
summer,  and  b^itween  the  lana  and  naval  commandi#s,  a 
plan  '^f  attack  npon  Washington,  Alexandria,  and  Balti- 
more, was  aoon  al^r  iMldbted.  A  few  weeks  before  the 
repulse  of  sir  George  Prevost,  at  Plattsburg,  admiral 
Cochrane  notyied  the  secretary  of  state,  of  his  leaving 
been  called  upon  by  the  governor  general,  to  lay  waate. 


m 


1 


Vi'' 


if 


i 

Hi 

Ifl:  ■ 


334 


HI83;^B1CAL  SKETCHES 


aitd  destroy,  all  such  towns  and  districts  upon  the  coast 
as  might  be  foand  assailable;  and^that  he  had  in  conse- 
quence issued  his  prders  to  that  effect,  to  all  the  naval 
commanders  upon  the  siation.  .     ' 

If  thi»  despktch  were  forwarded  wilh  the  honourable 
intent  of  a)>prising  the  American  government  of  ihe  con- 
templated attack  upon  the  eapital,  the  object  was  either 
wilfully,  or  throu^  negB^hte,  defeated;  for,  previously 
to  the  receipt  orM8  notice  at  the  depar^ent  of  state, 
tile  enemy  was  already  ascending,  in  two  divisions  of  his 
fleet,  the  Patuxent  and  the.Potqmac.  In  the  first  of  these 
rivers,  his  force;  amounted' to  27  square  rigged  vessels,  all 
of  which  proceeded  to  Benedict,  the  h^ul  of  frigate  navi- 
gation, and  landed  about  6000  regulars,  seamen  and  ma< 
nnes.  Coqamodore  Barney,^  by  the  ord^  of  the  secre- 
tary of  the  navy,  had  made  arrangements  to  have  blown 
up  thi  flotilla  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy;  and  joined 
the  arfipiy,  under  general  Winder.  As  soon  as  the  enemy 
appeared,  the  flotilla  was  accordingly  blown  up.  The 
enemy  then  took  up  his  march  4>y  me.  way  of  Notting- 
ham and  Marlborough  for  Washington.  «  At  this  tin^e 
general  Wiujder,  with  the  forces  intended  to  oppose  him, 
was  at  the  Wood-Yard,  twelve  miles  to  the.soutiiward 
of  the  capital.  His  force  at  tiiis  place  amounted  to  about 
three  thousand,  including  seamen  and  marines;  As  it 
was  ascertained  thai  the  enemy  was  anproaching,  gene- 
ral Winder  fell  back  to  the  Battalion  Old  Fields,  tp. pre- 
vent his  communication  with  the  city  from  bein^  inter- 
cepit^d.  On  tite  etenine  of  the  d3d,  general  Ross  m  force 
pushed  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Old  Fields,  and  bivoil- 
acked'for  the  night.  In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  pre- 
<^edin^  his  van*euard  encountered  the  light  corps  of  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Hcott,  majorTeter,  aiid  captain  8tull,  with 
whom  a  few  shot  were  exchanged,  when  on  the  arrival  of 
die  British  column  these  corps  retreated  and  joined  the 
Ami^rican  army.  About  twijiight,  eeneral  Winder  took 
up  hn  march  from  the  Battalion.  Old  Fields,  crossed  the 
eastern  branch  of  the  Potomac,  above  the  navy  yard,  and 
encamped  near  the  Irid^.  Earlj^  on  the  24#),  the  enemy's 
column  resum(ed  its  march,  and  reached  Bladensburg, 
about  §  miles  from  Washington,  without  loss.  At  Bladens- 
burg,  general  Stansbury  had  taken  an  advantageous  posl- 


OJP  T&E  1^1%  WAB. 


$^ 


a  coast 

conse- 

naval 

[>ttrable 
[ie  ccm- 
either 
viottsly 
f  state, 
}  of  his 
>f  these 
»els,  all 
le  navi- 
ind  ma- 
I  secre- 
i  blown 
1  joined 
1  enemy 
).    The 
Jotting- 
is  tiine 
)se  him, 
ithward 
o  about 
As  it 
.  gene- 
t^pre- 
j  inter- 
m  force 
bivort- 
on  pre- 
if  heu- 
1,  with 
rival-  of 
led  ^e 
r  took 
ed  the 
ti.  And 
nemy's 
sburg:, 
adens- 
8  posi- 


tion; and  bj  the  ^^eatesi  exertion,  general  Winder  was 
enabled  to  interpose  his  whole  force  before  the  enemy,  in,- 
cludine  commodore  Barney's  flolilla  mjenuid  m^nes.  At 
1,  P.  M  the  action  commenced:  The  Baltinikore  artiUery, 
under  captains  lii^ers  and  Maegcuder,  supported  bj  mii- 
jor  Pinkney's  riflemen,  were  statijOned  in  advance,  i0 
command  the  pas^  of  the.  bridge^  and  dealt  out  a  very 
destructive  fire.    BUt  the  fl^ti^  column  i^lvanced  upon 
them  in  such  gupertor  force,  that  tliey  were  dt>Ttgea  to 
retire. .Upon  which,  the. right  and  centre  of  geneml  StJEpiSr 
bury's  brigiMle,  immediately  ^ve  way,  and  in  a  few  mi- 
nutes he  was  deserted  by  his  whole  command,  except 
about  40  men  of  colonel  Ra&an*s  reghntnat,  and  captain 
Shower's  company.    The  5m«Bal1iittore  raiment,  under 
colonel  Sterret,  stationed  on  the  left  of  general  Btan6- 
bury's  brigade,  maintained  its  ground,  untiC  test  it  should 
be  ou^anked,  an  order  was  given  for  its  retreat    The 
reserve,  under  brigadier  general  Smith,  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  with  commodore  Barney  and  lieutenant  colonel 
Beajil  on  their  right,  still  remained  upon  the  hill,  and  con- 
tinued the  contest  after  the  fli^tjof  me  Maryland  bri^^ei^ 
As  the  militia  retired,  the  British  regularsjulvaiiced  upon 
tlie  main^ad,  and  coming  immediately  in  front  of  com- 
modore Barney's  corps,  he  opened  his  iS-pounders  upon 
them,  which  cleared  the  road,  and  for  a  time  disordered 
their  cnlumn,  and  retarded  their  approach.    Two  other 
attempts  made  bv  the  enemy  to  pass  the  batten^,  were 
also  repulsed;  when  general  Ross  marched  k  division  nf 
his  troops  into  an  open  field,  with  %  determination  to  flank 
^e  commodore's  right    This  attempt  also  was  frustrated 
by  captain  Miller,  of  th<e  maiines,  with  three  IS-ponnders, 
and  tne  flotilla-men  acting  as  infantry.    After  being  thus 
kept  in  check^about  halfan  hour,  general  Ross  began  to 
outflank  the  right  of  the  battery,  in  large  numbers  f  and 
pushed  his  main  body  over  the  ground  which,  had  been 
abandoned  by  general  Smith's  brigade,  and  threatened  to 
turn  Barney's  left.    Having  expended  nearly  all  his  agi- 
munition,  and  in  consequence  of  the  retreat  of  general 
Smith's  brig^e,  being  unprotected  on  his  left,  commodore 
Barney  found  himself  unable  to  contend  longer  against 
the  overwhelming  force  of  ihe  enemy.    To  add  to  his 
prtsent  embaiTassments*  he  receivea  himself  a  severe 


.i 


306 


HlStOBtOitlr  SK^TCIVES 


wtfumd  m  the  thigh,  add  \mi  the  semces  of  two  of  his 
ptitfcifi^i  officers*  Who  were  kiHed,  aiid  dho  of  enpfiatn 
Mlkrof^the  inaiiiiesy  and  saititig  miiAter  Marthi»  who 
were  wouiided.  At  this  juncture,  the  etiem^f  from  the 
i^t^ftnd  left  wiut  gaining  the  real"  of  the  btttery.  llraft 
•ita«ted»  the  comittOiiore  pcft  orders  fer  a  retreat,,  and 
aket  beinfr  carried  a  short  dktance  from  the  scene  of  his 
gatlantniiie  fell,  eshansted  by  the  l«ss  of  bl^Mkl,  andlnras 
geon  amr  made  .prisoner  by  general  Ross  and  admiral 
CdckhUm,  who  pot  htm  on  his  parole,  and  hiiving  fin^t 
ri^oved  him  to  their  hospital  in  Bladenshnrg,  ordered 
the  immediate  att^ndanceef  their  surgeons  to  dress  his 
wounds 

Having  thUd  obtidned  possession  of  the  bridge,  over 
the  easbm  branch  of  the  Potomac,  the  enemy  marched 
directly  upon  the  capital,  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
thtf  destruction  of  all  the  spacious  and  splendid  edifices 
by  which  it  was  adorned.  The  senate  house,  the  repre- 
swtattive  hflU»  the  supreme  court  room,  ^  prendent^s 
houae»  witb  all  its  external  and  interior  decorations,  and 
the  buildings  cimtaining  the  public  departments,  were 
very  soon-  deMoli^edt  m  severM  private  houses  burned 
to  me  ground.  The  phinder  of  individual  property  was 
prohibite<^  however,  and  soldiers  transgressing  the  order 
were  aeterely  punished.  The  prihcipaivengeance  of  ad^ 
miral  Cockbum*  on  whom,  ijf  the  safety  of  the  citizens' 
dwellings  had  alone  depended,  if  he  is  to  be  judged  ^y 
hi»  former  conduct,  thet  would  have  rested  on  «  ^Tender 
guaranty,  was  db^ectoo  against  .theprin'ting  office  of  the 
editor  of  a  newspaper,  from  wliose  press  had  been  issued 
6«qtie«it  accounts  of  the  admiral's  depredations  along  the 
coast  •         '  ^ 

Thffe  navy  yard,  a»  well  as  a  new  first  rate  frigate,  and 
If  sloop  of  war,  were  destroyed  by  order  of  govemment, 
upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  to^  prevent  &e  immense 
public  stores,  munitioas  and  armaments,  deposited  there, 
ft«m  ftLIIing  into  his  hands^  The  patent  office  alone,  in 
which  were  collected  the  rarest  specimens  of  the  arts  of 
the  country,  escaped  the  insatiable  vengeance  of  a  foe, 
whose  dec^troying  arm  was  directed  against  tfie  most  su- 

Serb  monuments  of  architectural  skill,  and  public  muni^ 
cence.    fht  public  documents  and  official  records^  the 


OlF  THE  LATK  WAR. 


337 


e  of  his 
eftpfftin 
in,  who 
roi»  the 
.  lliffft 
eftf ,,  and 
teof  h» 
afldWad 
admiral 
ing  firftt 
ordered 
Iress  Ins 

ge,  over 
marched 
eed^  to 
[  edifices 
le  repre- 
emdenfft 
ons^  and 
to,  Were 
s  burned 
ert^  wa« 
he  order 
ce  of  ad- 
citizens' 
Ldffedl^y 
dtender 
iec^  the 
ti  issued 
long  the 

ate,  and 
imment, 
mmeflse 
!d  there, 
tlone,  in 
I  arts  of 
\(  a  foe, 
most  8u- 
ic  munr- 
rdsy  the 


fiags,  and  various  other  trophies  of  the  repeated  triumphs 
of  th(»  Am«^iDan  arms,  and  the  spede  fiitmi  «U  the  bai&s 
in  the  district,  had  previousiv  been  jdaced  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  cupidity  of  the  invaders,  and  they  re<]imed 
from  an  irru{iitien  which  excited  the  indtena^on  of  all 
parties  in  the  union,  and  drew  forth  the  depi'eciitiQBs  of 
theprincipal  nations  in  Europe. 

The  president  and  the  heads  of  departments,  all  of 
whom  had  visited  the  rendezvous  of  the  troops  at  Bla^ 
densburg^  the  day  before  the  battle,  findin|^  that  the  force 
which  had  been  hastily  assembled,  did  iipt  amount  to  the 
number  called  for  bv  the  requisitions  upon  the  ad}acent 
states,  returned  to  the  me^opolis  to  maxe  arrangements 
for  the  augmentation  df  geutoral  Winder's  army^  This 
duty,  which  in  times  of  less  danger,  required  the  exercise 
of  great  energy,  could  not  be  performed^  before  the  ene- 
my;  had  encountered  and  defeated  the  cerpSf  already  Col- 
lected. The  capture  of  tliese  officers  would  have  caused 
at  least  a  temporary  derangement  of  the  government, 
and  in  order  that  its  functions  mi^t  be  resumed  unme^ 
diittielj^  after  the  departure  of  ^  ^nemy^  tbev  ietivcd 
from  the  metropolis  on  his  approadb  Ij^ikeral  Winder 
had  alsn  withdrawn,  with  the  remnant  of  his  force  to 
Mont^Somery  courlliouse:  the  dtizens  were  incapable  of 
opposing  the  hostile  operations  of  the  British  comman- 
ders; and  the  capital  was  therefinre  entirely^  at  their 
mercj^  ■■  '-h  s'>'"^-^?^»^'  •  :■*   ' 

Tlidt  division  <^  the  enemy's  fleets  which  ascended  the 
Potomac,  consisting  of  8  smC  upon  which  were  mounted 
175  guns,  and  commanded  by  captain  Gordon,  was  direct- 
ed to  attack  the  city  of  Alexanaria.  As  they  apptMieb- 
ed  up  the  riv«!r,  the  commandant  of  fort  Waniurtc^  cap- 
tain Uyson,  destroyed  that  garrison,  and  retired  with  his 
artillerists,  and  the  British  squadron  passed  up  ta  the  city, 
without  annoyance  or  impednnent  The  peopleef  Alex- 
andria surrendered  their  town,  and  obtamea  a  stipular 
tion  on  the  29th  of  August,  from  the  i&Tiish  comman- 
der,  that  their  dwellings  should  not  be  entered  Or  destroj*- 
ed.  The  condition  upon  which  this  stipulation  was  made, 
required  ^e  immediate  delivery  to  tne  enemy,  of  all 
puolic  and  private  naval  and  ormiance  stores;  of  all  thfe 
shipping,  and  the  furniture  necessary  to  their  equipment, 
then  in  port;  of  all  the  merchandise,  of  every  descrio- 

Ff 


i  ■ 


I 


s&a 


Ul^TOmiCAL  «]^TCHEM 


M. 


tioit  trtktittier  in  the  town,  or  removed  from  it  since  the 
19tb  of  i^e  mon^;  that  such  merchandise  should  be  put 
OK  board  ^«  sh^ipins,  attlie  eipense  of  the  owners;  and 
iStait  fdl  tesseh  wliicn  m^jat  have  been  suidt  upoa  th^  ap- 
(iroach  qf  the  enemy,  should  be  raised  by  the  merchants 
and  delivered  up»  with  all  their  apparatus.  These  hard 
and  ungenerous  conditions  were  complied  witii;  and  on 
the  '6th  of  Septen^r,  ci^ytain  Gordm  moved  off  with  a 
^Iciet  of  ptwi  vessels,  which,  tA  welt  as  his  frigatea  and 
other  vessels  oi  War,  contained  caraoes  of  booty.  In 
descending  the  river,  he  was  warmfy  opposed,  and  re> 
Ceived  considerable  damage  from  tw0  oatteries  at  the 
White  House,  and  at  Indian  ileftd,  under  the  respective 
commands  of  captains  Porter  and  Perry,  of  the  navy— • 
the  former  assisted  by  gei^nd  Hungeitord'sr  brigade  of 
VMnia  militia  infimtiy,  and  a  eompany  of  riflemen,  fi»m 
Jdrorson  county,  under  captain  Humphreys,  whose  bro- 
Dier  lost  an  arm  in  Htut  en^igement ;  and  the  latterly  tiie 
taigade'  of jeeneral  Stewart,  and  the  volunteer  companies 
of  nu^ot'  Rster  and  captain  Birch.  The  batteries,  how- 
ever, not  being  completed,  and  mounting  but  a  few  light 
pieeesy '  could^  not  invent  the  departure  of  tiiie  enemy 
with  his  knmense  booty,  though'  they  k^t  up  an  mces- 
smt  ire  from  the  3d  until  ^e  6th  tfi  the  mon^,  upon 
^  vwBsela  pasting  down  on  each  of  f^iese  days.  Gem- 
modore  Rodgert,  too,  aided  by  lieutenant  Newcombe 
and  sailing  master  Ramaj^e,  made  frequent  attempts  to 
destn^  the  enemy^  shipping,  by  approaching  withm  the 
liiiige  of  musket  «hot,  with  several  small  fire  vessels. 
After  the  cornmunication  of  the  fire,  a  change  of  wind 
prevented  these  vessels  from  getting  in  between  the  Bri- 
tiih  fiq^tes,  thou^  they  exerted  much  alarm  among^  the 
fteet,  whose  men  were  aetinsely  employed  in  extinguish- 
ing the  flsMnes.  These  remctive  forces  were  afterwards 
eoncfcntrated,  and  commodore  Rodgers  took  possession 
of  Aleiandria,  wKliadetenmnatiMi  to  defend  it,  notwit^^ 
studKng  its  surrender,  against  another  attempt  of  the 
encniiy,  wftose  fleet  was  not  yet  out  of  sight  from  the 
n^M«Bt  battery. 

After  tbe  embarkation  ai  the  troops  under  general 
Rtes,  ivhose  loss  at  Bladensbufg  neariy  amounted  ta 
1000  meu,  in  killed,  wounded,  pnson^rs^  cteserters,  and 
those  who  died  of  fatigue,  admiral  Ck>chnine  coficentmt* 


■ 


# 


it  nnce  tlie 

^ould  be  put 

»wnere|  and 

upoii  th«  ap- 

te  merchants 

These  hard 

^ith;  and  on 

idoffwii^a 

frigates  and 

booty.     In 

»ed,  and  r»- 

eries  at  the 

e  respective 

the  navj-— 

9"  brigade  of 

B«nieQ,from 

whose  bro- 

latteri^  ^ 

r  compaMies 

teries,  how- 

afew  light 

the  «neinj 

tp  an  mces- 

tonth,  upon 

lys.    Gom- 

Newtombe 

tttempts  to 

within  the 

re  vessels. 

;e  of  wind 

n  the  Bri- 

amoi^the 

^xtinguish- 

afterwards 

possesalon 

U  notwitf^^ 

ipt  of  the 

irom  the 

r  general 
Minted  la 
-ters^  and 
pcentral* 


W  THE  l^ATB  WAB. 


($89 


ed  the  various  detachments  of  his  fleet*  ai|d  made  prftpa- 
ratioua  for  an  attitck  upon  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

Despatch  veswla  were  forwarded  to  all  pwts  lif  ithe 
bay,  to  call  toother  the  frigates  stationed  &««^'  IN  ^i^ 
Cerent  shores,  abd  among  others  the  M^nel^tuB,  «^«ii;naiid- 
ed  by  sir  Peter  Parker,  and  then  Tying  in  the  neigtilpiUl^ 
hood  of  Moors  f!ieldi9.  That  officer  determined  o»  an 
expedition  against  a  detachment  of  MaryUind  vptuntejevs^ 
encamped,  under  colonel  Read»  at  tlu^  fields,  belore  h$ 
obeyed  the  call  of  the  adtaiiral ;  and  for  that  purpose  land* 
ed  with  230  men,  and  maHe  a  detour.to  lurprise  and  cut 
it  o£  The  deiachmeni;  consisted  oif  170  m^nj  ami  ilfi 
commander*  being  apprised  of  th^  enemy's  mQtii9n8,,  was 
fttUy  ptepared  to  receive  him.  3ir  Peter  advanced  to  a 
chajrg^  and  being  repulsed,  opened  a  fire  within  pistol 
shot,  wiuch  continued.  neiirLy  an  hour.  At  the  en4  <»f 
that  <3tae  his  force  was  cbrivea  back,  with  a  h»$  <»f  XT 
carried  off,  jind  19  kilted»  and  3  wounded,  left  upo9k  tbe 
ground:  among  the  wounded  was  sir  Peter,  who  dli^d 
immediately  ali6r  being  mi  on  board  the  iS|ene)au9»r- 
Colonel  Read  hsid  3  men  slightly  wounded.  The  Mfoe- 
laus  joined  tiie  .fleet  upon  the  following  day,  and  sailed 
with  it  to  the  mou^  of  the  Petapsco  iott  die  10th  of  Stt^ 
ten^ber. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  nearly .  40  sail,  and  the  he«:ilest 
vessels,  ships  of  r  the  line,  anchored  across  the  cha<iii«l, 
and  commenced  the  debarkation  of  the  troops*  i^ended 
for  the  Ittnd  attack,  upon  North  Point,  12  miles  distisnt 
from  the  city.  By  the  morning  of  the  I2th>  abonjtt  8000 
soldiers,  sailors,  aitd  marmei^  were  in  readinesS^  to  march 
upon  the  town,  andjl^Q  kwib  vessels  and  frigates  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river,  and  inchored  within  two  OEMJes  ai^d 
an  half  or  fort  M*Hetiry> 

This  ^rison^  commanded  bv,  lieutenant  cplonel  0. 
Armtstead,  of  the  United  Slates*  artillery;  a.Ui^ttei^  at 
^  Lazaretto,  commanded  by  lieuteiiattt » i&utte^,  oi  the 
flotilUi;  asmsll  workrcaUed  f^rt  Covington^  by  lieutenant 
Newcombe*  of  the  ^hierrieve ;  a  sii  am  battery^  erected 
near  it,  by  lieutenant  X^ebster,  of  tlie  flotilla;  andlinvf  of 
intrenchments  and  breastworks,  hasttlv  thrown  up  by  the 
people  of  Baltimore,  werie  rtiMed  cm  for  the  defence  and 
protection  of  the  city. 


HGA»-*-Hi#i"J' 


340 


UISTOaiCAJi  SKETCHES 


'I- 


:^/'^t,tlie  forts:  and  bfttteries,  1000  men  were  stationed; 
along  the  breasWorks,  about  four  times  that  number ; 
and  ul  under  temmind  of  major  general  Samuel  Smith, 
aaiisted  br  brigadier  general  Wmder,  of  the  United  States* 
eirta?jf,  and  bt^^er  general  Strieker,  of  the  Baltimore 


In  anticipation  of  the  enemy's  intention  to  land  at  the 
point,  and  to  meet  and  repulse  his  Inght  parties,  or  to  en- 
g^ige  Ins  whole  force  at  a  distance  f^i>m  the  main  worics, 
geneial  Strieker  was  despatched  with  part  of  his  Mgade, 
and  a  light  corps  of  riflemen  and  tn&nti7,  from  general 
Siaasbury's  brigade,  under  miyor  Randal,  and  several 
companies  of  the  Pennsylvania  volunteers* :  On^eeven- 
ine  of  thellth,  this  detachment,  amounting  to  3t85 
emctive  inen,  reached  <he  meeting  house,  naar  the  head 
irf"  BiUir  creek,  when  the  yoliinteer  cavalry,  wider  oo^ 
lOnelBiays^  were  sent  three  miles,  and  captain  Dyer's  ri- 
flemen, two  miles,  in  advance.  Early  on  the  following 
momine/ cantain  MQntg;omery, .  with  the  artillery;  lieute- 
nant colonel  Sterret,  v^ith  the  5th;  and  li«ttenant colonel 
Long,  with  the  27th  re^ments,  were  smt  some  distance 
t\>rw«*d.  The  artillery  was  planted  in  the  ndddte  of 
the^^orth  Point  road,  al^l  supported  on  each  iank  by  the 
two  infantry  regiments.  The  51st  regiment,  underliett- 
teniuit  coknel  Amey,  Was  stationed  a^few  hundred  yards 
in  (^  rear  of  the  5tn;  the  39th,  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Powler,  in  the  rear  of  the  37th|  and  the  6tii,  under  lien- 
tenant  colonel  M'Donald,  drawn  up  as  a  reserve,  bilf  a 
niSle  in  ^  rear  of  the  whole. 

The  riflemen  were  ordered  to  skirt  a  low  wood,  with 
a  large  sedge  field  in  its  front,  under  cover  of  which,  as 
thecavidry  fell  back  to  appiise  general  Strieker  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  they  were  to  annoy  the  British 
advance,  and  retire  in  ^ood  order  upQn  the  main  body  of 
'^e  troops.  Soon  lifter  these  dispositions  had  been  made, 
tti<^  cavalry  ^cume  in  with  the  intUligeiioe,  that  the  ene- 
my^ light  corps  Were  rapkily  adi^iBcinff  ako^  the  road, 
and  at  Uie  monient  when  it  was  expilcted  they  would  be 
engiged  hy  the  riflemen,  >that  bod^  was  aeon  falKng  hack 
without  havine  o|^[H>sed  them,  underajpvesttmption  that 
the  enemy  had  landed  at  Blaek  river^  ib  orckrr  to  cut  off 
their  retreat  The  general  immediately  pushed  ibrwaid 
two  comjianies  from  the  5th  infantry,  150  in  number. 


OV  TUB  LAm  WMU(  it 


541 


itioned; 
lumber; 
{ Smith, 
IBtates' 
litimore 

id  at  the 
ir  to  en- 
t  works, 


genertl 
several 
he  even- 
to  3185 
the  head 
ider  co- 
dyer's  ri- 
»lk>wing 
;  lieute- 
b"Golonei 
distance 
idd}e  of 
k  by  the 
er  Ji^ 
id  yards 
colonel 
er  lien* 
tedfa 


t'  I..,-  i . 


d,  ^th 
kich»  as 
1^  the 
Bifttish 
body  of 
I  made, 
K»  ene- 
lie  road, 
Hiid  be 
igback 
m  that 
c»t^ 
qrwaid 
umber. 


under  €i|^i^  Levering  aiid  Hdwwd;  immI  commokM 
by-  majdrmath,  of  that  regimenii  about  70  riAelDM%#n*> 
wtr  oafitain  Aisqiiith;  the  cavairy;aiid  10irtilUiia4f«^M» 
a  4  "ponndM-,  eoinmaiided  b^  lieatanant  0t3«i.  >  ^Chiv  d»* 
tadinieiit,  having  proceeded  half  k  mdt,  wtt  m&th^  and 
instantly  engaged,  the  enemy's  main  ^ady,  ISia  •itii»< 
tion  of  the  ground  would  vot  admit  of  die  co<opera#DAof 
^  arttllelT  and  ^ralrjr;  and  the  infantrr  tnd  riflemoiif 
sosiained  iKe  whole  action  with  great  ganan<rv»  pooring 
in  a  rafdd  aiiid  effective  fire  upon  the  Britisn  enkimm 
kiUingiikajor  general  lUws,  and  several  other  olficert,  wid 
impemng  th«  advance  of  the  Britisb  arpiy.  Httfiimnm*i 
formed  mt  dii^  fe(}uir^d  of  them  by  nnend  StneW« 
the  whole  detachment,  with  a  trifling  loas.  Ml  bade  in 
exeeltant  order  npon  the  Ameiiean  line^  The  enemy 
then  miWed  forward,  under  eolonel  Brooke,  upon  whom 
the  commadd  bad  devolved^  and  at  half  tiast  2  bemm  to 
throw  bia  rockett  upon  tile  left  flank  or  the  ndUtia  tiri* 
gsde.  Captain  MontMmer^  immediateljr  opened  hit  ir* 
tMi«ryupon  him,  and  lie  British  played  upon  the  left  and 
centra  with  their  6  noundera  and  a  howitxer*  The  ^u^ 
nonide  oontinaed  with  great  vivad^,  until  general  Btriek* 
er6rdei«d  the  firing  io  ceftse,  so  as  to  draw  the  onemy 
witiHtt  the  raiKe  of  grape  and  eanitter*  Colonel  Brookio 
then  covered  hia  whole  front  with  the  Bvltiih  light  bri- 
s^icte;  directed  the  4th  regiinent,  by  a  detflttr,  to  gitfn  a 
todgmentclbse  upon  the.  American  left,  and  (brmectaline 
along  general  SMcker^  front,  witb  tha  41tt  Mgimettt^  thd 
marinea  <rf  the  fleet;  and ^a  detachment  of  seamen;  and 
placed  the  Stst  regiment,  the  3d  battalion  of  marines^ 
and'  another  detachment  of  seamen,  in  coinmns  en  the 
main  rbad,  with  orders  tb  press  on  the  American  right-on 
the  first  opportunity.  General  Strieker,  seeing  thftt  hts 
left  flank  would  be  the  main  obfeet  of  attack,  cfdered  up 
the  SSth  into  line  on  the  STth,  and  detached  two  jpieeei 
of  artillery  to  the  exta^eme  left  of  lieutenant  edonel  Ft>W^ 
Inr^  command.  Lleutenunt  colonel  Anu^  was  alio  di- 
re<sted  to  form  the  5latriA  right  angles,  iHtb  bis  vight  Met* 
tngnear  the  left W the S9lbi 

Irhe  whole  force  of  the  ^nemy  at  that  moment  j>reMed 
forward  hia  rbht  eorumn,  advanckig  npon  the  s/th  and 
IM»  and  attadced  those  regiment*  with  great  impetno^ 
sity.  The  5lst>  which  waa  onlered  to  open  upon  the  eae^ 

Ff2 


34£ 


lIISTOmCA];.  fiKB'TCHES 


my  in  his  attempt  to  turn  the  rest  of  the  line,  deliveretl 
a  loose  fire,  immediately  broke,  fled  precipitately  from 
its  ground,  and  in  such  confusion,  that  every  effort  to 
raBy  tt>r0yed  ineiiectuaL    The  Sd  battaUon  of  the  39th, 
l^aa  thtowB  into  lUsorder,  by  the  flight  ol  the  ^Ist,  imd 
fome  of  its  comnanies  also  gave  way.    The  remainder, 
and  the  1st  battalion  stood  firm.    Thus  abandoned  by 
the  retteat  of  the  51st,  general  Strieker  made  newer* 
langements  for  the  reception  of  the  enemv,  and  opened 
ajeneral  fire  upon  hiss,  from  the  right,  left  and  centre. 
The  artillery,  sent  forth  a  destructive  torrent  of  canister 
a|;iiii«it  the  British  left  column,  then  attempting^  gain 
theiO^ver  of  a  small  log  house,,  in  front  of  the  5th  regi- 
mei^    Captain  Sadtler,  with  his  yagers  from  that  re^ 
mtA^  who  were  posted  in  the  house  when  the  Aritish 
4th  re|[iment  was  advancing  had,  however,  taken  ^* 
precaution  tojset  file  to  it,  ana  the  intention  of  the  eneu^j 
was  tlierefore  defeated^    The  6th  mgiment  then  opened 
its:  fire,  and  the  whole  line  entered  into  an  animatea  con- 
test, which  continued  with  a  severe  loss  to  the  enemy, 
un^  15  minutes  before  4  o^clock.    At  that  hour,  general 
Strieker,  haviiig  inflicted  as  much  injury  upon  the  inva- 
ders ^as  eoula  possibW.be  expected,  from  a  line  noW  but 
1400  stronft  afiinst  a  forcie  amounting,  notwitiistanding 
its  losies,  !lik  &  least  7000  men,  ordem  hia  bri^e  to 
i«etii%  upon  the  reserve  regiment;  an  order  which  was 
Wfil  executed  by. ^  whole  line,  which  in  a  few  minutes 
mtti^d  upon  Ueutenant  colonel  M*0ottald.    From  the 
|li|jsi%;0ccupied  by  this  regiment^  general  Strieker,  in 
order  to  refresh  ms  troops,  and  prepare  them  for  a  se« 
cond  movement  01  the  enemy,  retired  to  a  position  half 
axmile.in.ad^ABce  of  the  left  of  major  general  Smith's 
wtrenchm^ts.    Here  he  was  joined  by  general  Winder, 
who,  with  seneral  Douglass's  Virginias  bri^^,  fend  the 
IJnited  Stipes'  dragoons,  under  captain  Bird,  took  post 
upon  his  left. 

.•  sWlnlst  aU  these  movements  were  in  operation,  general 
Smith  was  actively  engaged  in  manning  ^e^^«nches  and 
batteries  with  generals  Stanabury  ai^  Foreman's  bri- 
gades, a  deta«(shmeni  of  seam^  aim^  marines,  under  com- 
modore Bo(l[gers»  colonels  Cobean  and  Fitily^s  Fmnsyl- 
vania  volunteers,  colonel  Harris's  Bdtimore  artillery,  and 
^e  nuurine  jwtillery  under  captaiaSliles,  Colonel  Brooke 


OF  THE  ULfE  WAB. 


34JI 


iW  but 


com- 

;aiMl 
rooke 


^id  not  advance  with  his  columns  farther  than  the  mmnd 
on  which  general  Strieker  had  been  previously  formed, 
where  he  remained  during  the  night  of  the  12tii.    Early 
on  the.  following  morning  he  received  a  communication 
from  admiral  .Cochrane,  mat  the  frigates,  bomb  shipsi,  and 
flotilla  of  halves,  would  take  their  stationt,  tobombard 
the  town  and  fort  in  tiie  course  of  the  morning.    At  day- 
break of  the  18th,  the  land  forces,  therefore,  a^uo:  moved 
forward,  and  occupied  a  position  two  inilet  easl^vard  of 
the  intronclmients.    The  day  was  chiefty  enmloyed  in 
man«BHvrii^  by  1x>th  parties;  colonel  Brooke frequen^^y 
attempting  to  make  a  detour  throuril  the  country,  to  the 
Harford  and  York  roads,and  generals  Winder  and  Strieker 
adapting  their  movements  to  those  of  the  enemv^the  bet« 
ter  to  frustrate  his  designs.  At  noon  tte  Britim  columns, 
were  concentrated  directly  m  front  of  the  American  line, 
and  colonel  Bitioke  advanced  to  within  a  mile  »f  the 
works,  drove  in  the  outposts*  and  made  arraiigenientB  ^Ror 
an  attack  at  night.    Generals  Winded  and  Strieker  were 
then  ordered  to  station  themselves  on  the  enemy's  rig^t, 
and  in  the  event  of  an  attack  upon  the  breastworks, 
to  fsll'wpoK.^t  flank,  or  on  his  rear.    Hm  assanH  was 
net  made,  however,  and  (he  enemy,  probably  thinking  he 
would  be  outflanked,  and  having  discovered  the  stitsngth 
of  the  defences,  withdrew  fnimhis  position  in  the  couiiie 
of  the  ni^^t,  and  re-embarked  his  troops  in^e  evenii^  of 
the  14tii.    His  retreat  was  not  discdvered  uH^l  break  of 
that  day»in  consequence  of  the  dat^kness  of  the  night ; 
and  thottgh  a  heavy  fall  of  rain  cohtinned  throughout  Ihe 
morning,  g|eneiiil  Winder  witk  h'ls  dragoons  and  the  Yit^ 
ginia  militia,  major  Randal  with  his  Mght  corpse  and  the 
whole  mititia  ai|d  cavalry,  were  stint  in  pursuit    The  ex- 
cessive fati^e  of  the  troops,  all  of  whom  had  been  three 
days  and  nights  under  arms,  in  the  moat  inclanent  wea- 
ther, prevented  their  annoying  the  eneniyfs  rear  with 
much  effect,  and  they  made  prisoners  of  none  bht  strag- 
glers from  his  army.     At  the  mom»it  when  colonel 
iorooke  advanced  along  the  Philadelphia  road,  the  M- 
galies  and  bomb  shim  of  the  fleet  nqiproached  n^thin 
strikinff  distance  of  me  fort    Colonel  Armistead  had  id- 
ready  disposed  of  his  force  to  maintain  the  cannonade 
with  vigoui^;  a  c«npany  of  regular  artillery,  under  cap- 
tain Evans,  and  another  of  volunteer  arallery,  under 


■M 


344 


nilTOltieAI.  SEBTORfeS 


captain  Nicholson,  manned  the  bastions  in  the  Star  fort; 
captains  BitfllNinr  and  Addison^  sea  feneibles,  and  cap'- 
tain  Berry's,  and  lieutenant  Peaningptna'a  artillery,  were 
stationed  al  the  water  batteries;  and  about  ^00  Infontry, 
under  lieutenant  coSonel  Stewart,  and  major  Lane,  were 

5 laced  in  the  outer  ditch,  to  repulse  an  attempt  to  land, 
fhe  iiombnrdment  commenced.  All  the  batteries  were 
immediatrij  opened  upon  the  enemy,  but  the  shot  fldling 
verrfar  sliort'of  his  vessels,  ilie  firing  ceased  fruin  the 
fori  or  was  maintained  only  at  intervals,  to  show  that 
the  garrison  had  not' sank  under  the  tremendons  showers 
of  rockets  and  shellst  incessantly  thrown  into  the  batte- 
ries. Thus  situated,  without  the  power  of  retaliating  the 
attack  of  the  enemy,colonel  Armistead  and  his  bniv«  m^n 
endured  their  mortification  with  an  unyielding^  spirit  do* 
ring  the  whole  bombardment,  Which  eontmued  un^  7 
o'doiftk  on  the  monuAg  of  the  14th.  Under  cover  of  the 
night,  the  British  commanders  dMpalched  a  fleet  of 
barges  to  attflick  and  storm  fort  CovingtOfi.  The  attempt 
was  repulsed^  however,  and  the  assaihints  retired  with 
an  immense  loss,  to  their  bomb  vessels;  and  on  the 
morninff  of  Wednesday,  the  whole  stood  down  the  river, 
and  rgoincd  admiral  Cechrane's  Aeet  The  loss  in  the 
fort  amounted  to  4  killed,  and  ^  wdnnded  t  anioh|{  th« 
kUled  werQ  two  eallant  young  voliinteer  officers,  lieut^<» 
ttants  Glagget  and  Ctem.  The  entire  loss  of  the  en<imy 
has  not  VMbe^  ascertained.  That  of  the  Americans  on 
the  field  <)f  bi^ttle  did  not  fall  short  of  150,  whicln  beintf 
added  to  the  kilted  and  wounded  in  the  fot^  makes  a  total 
of  t78.  The  invaders  havii^  thus  retiried  fiivm  what  they 
calleid  a  dononstraSon  iipdn  BaltiM4re,  the  safety  of  the 
citiizeni  was  secured,and  the  diflhi«nt corps  werfe  relieved 
fiiBm  further  duty.  V 

The  plan  of  operatieni/howe^r,  whidi  hifd  been  adopts 
^  1^  tiie  Biitiih  cabinet,  to  d«»troy  and  lay  waste  th« 
prki^ipal  towns  imd  commercial  cities,  assailable  eithier 
ny/mmr  land  or  naval  forces,  Was  not  to  be  abandoned 
becauie  of  this  r^lse^  gallant  md  effective  as  it  was; 
<^The  cities  of  Charleston,  Savannah,  Baltimore  and 
WanhingtM,  were  destined  to'  be  burtied  and  plun- 
dered *,  and  l4)eW'  Orteans,  the  great  emporium  of  an  the 
wealth  and  treasure  of  the  western  states,  waa  to  be 
seized,  ai|d  held  as  a  colony  of  Oreat  Britain.    The  f^tl- 


tar  fori; 
titd  cap*- 
y,  were 
nfantiy, 

tiff  WOM 

to  land, 
les  were 
t  iUling 
mm  the 
ow  that 
showers 
ke  batte- 
ting  the 
[ivem^n 
lirit  dti- 
nntit  7 
r  of  the 
fleet  of 
attempt 
ed  with 
Ml  the 
ife  river, 

in,  the 
»ii|(  the 

heute- 

enemy 
cans  oil 
n  being 

a  tout 
at  they 

of  the 
^Keved 

adopt- 
ite  the 
either 
doned 
t  was. 

and 
plan- 
It  the 
to  be 

ffttl- 


•F  THE  LATE  WAB. 


S45 


ure  of  her  arms,  in  an  assault  upon  either  of  these  places, 
was  not  to  prevent  an  attack  upon  another,  no  natter 
what  the  slaughter;  and  the  separate  commandtra  were 
directed  to  concentraite  their  forces,  or  diaw  from  the 
Bermudas  such  an  augmentation  as  should  be  neeessanr, 
and  in  the  event  of  sncoeseive  repulses  upon  other  ob- 
jects^ to  bend  all  their  strength  a^unst  the  city  of  New 
Orleans^  and  its  defences  on  the-  Mississippi.  At  tiie 
Bermudas  a  powerful  and  well  appointed  fleet  «Ml>anny 
was,  for  this  purpose,  collected,  and  their  arrival  upon 
the  southern  coast  daily  anticipated.  Admural  Cochrane 
had,  in  the  mean  time,  directed  a  smaller  squadron  of 
vessels,  then  fitting  out  at  Pensacola,  in  tli^  territory  of  a 
neighbouring  nation  with  whom  the  United  States  wei^ 
at  the  same  moment  at  peace,  for  an  expedition  against 
some  of  the  defences,  by  wluch  the  entrances  to  New 
Orleans  was  protected,  to  make  the  earliest  prepimiisii 
for  an  assault  upon  fort  Bowyer,  a  garrison  situiM^  ft* 
point  called  Mobile.  In  the  early  part  of  September, 
this  squadron,,  consisting >of  two  sum^s  of  war,  and  two 
gun  bri^)  mountiiig  in  all  Sl&guns,  and  commanded  by 
captain  Percy,  was  already  on  its  way  to  flie  intended 
attacks  On  the  12th  of  that  month,  captain  Percy  xame 
within  si^t  of  the  fort,  landed  upwards  of  700  Indians 
and  marines  in  its  rear,  where^  within  a  small  distance  of 
the  garrison,  they  erected  a  la^  battery*  and  towards  the 
evemngof  the  15th,  tlie  assault  commenced  with  a  can^ 
nOniade  and  bombardment.  The  fort  was  commanded 
b^  major  Lawr«aice,  of  the  Sd  infantry^  mounted  20  pieces 
of  cannon,  most  of  ^em  of  small  catibre,  and  was  |^- 
lisoned  by  less  tluui  130  men.  With  this^isproportaon- 
ate  strength,  ma|or  Lawrence  not  onlv  sustained  a  con- 
flict of  several  hours,  but  eventuaUy  orove  the  enemy's 
troops  from  their  portion  on  the  shore-— destroyed  nis 
principal  ship  tlie  Hermes,  which  was  abandpned  by  her 
crew,  and  alWwards  blown  out  of  the  water«--«nd  re- 
pulsed his  assailiuits  with  a  loss  on  their  side,  in,  killed 
and  wounded,  of  2S0  men.  The  reinaining  ships  of  tlie 
squadron  returned  to  Pensacola,  where  they  were  again 
received  by  the  governor,  to  repair  th^  losses  and  obtain 
new  equipment^  Mortified  in  tiie  extreme  at  th^ir  ui£^ 
expected  disa^r,  and  foUy  determined  on  avenging  it, 
the  British  commanders  fordiwith  commenced  the  enlai^- 


^aiiK^ 


JPS 


346 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


m 


IB€nt  of  their  foi'ces,  by  enlisting  new  tribes  of  Indians, 
provided  with  arms,  anu  ammunition,  at  the  expense  of 
the  Spaniards. 

The  Creek  Indians,  whose  numerous  hordes  had  al- 
ready been  repeatedly  defeated,  at  the  Alabama,  the  Hic- 
kory grounds,  and  elsewhere,  by  levies  of  militia,  under 
maji^r  j^neral  JacI(;son,  (^hen  at  Tennessee,  but  now  of 
the  Unitejii  States'  army,  a  man  of  great  {H-omptness,  i}e- 
cisHon  and  intrepidity,)  and  who  had  been  reduce<u  to  the 
necesaty  of  ne^tiating  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  govern- 
inent,  were  again  uigad  to  raise  the  tomfaawk  against  the 
people  by  whom  they  had  been  conquered*  Until  some 
decisive  and  effectual  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent 
this  illegal,  and,  to  the  Americans,  dangerous  intercourse, 
the  inroads  of  the  treacherous  savages  would  become  no 
leas  fi'equent  than  before,  and  the  faciliUes  of  annoying 
tiie  adjacent  Americaa  coast  l«  greatly  multiplied.  At 
the  appearance  of  such  imminent  danger,  general  Jack- 
son, wnose  head  quarters  were  then  at  Mobile,  did  not 
hesitate  wh&t  plan  to  pursue,  and  without  waiting  for  tlie 
authority  of  the  government,  he  immediately  cc  fleeted  a 
force  of  nearly  4000  men,  and  determiued  on  the  occupa- 
tion i»f,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from,  the  town 
of  Pensacola.  On  iiis  arrival  before  that  place  he  re- 
quired of  the  governor,  an  immediate  "Consent  to  ibe  oc- 
Ckipation  of  ihe  fo^t£^  by  tlie  Americans,  until  they  should 
be  garrisoned  by  a  sufficient  number  of  Spanish  troops 
tc  protect  them  a^^nst  the  violation  of  their  neutrality, 
of  which  the  British  forces  were  entirely  regardless. 
This  proposal  was  unhesitatingly  rejected,  and  after  a 
feeble  resistance  to  his  approaches,  general  Jackson  car- 
ried the  place  by  storm,  and  forced  a  compliance  with 
his  equitable  demand.  By  the  fiersuasion  of  the  British 
(f^i.zara,  however,  tJie  cominandant  of  the  principal  fort 
was  induced  to  destroy  its  rrmament,  and  blow  up  the 
bastions,  and  having  secur(>d  his  troops  on  board  the 
British  squadr-^n,  to  retire  witti  them  to  the  HaVAnna. 
The  necessity  which  took  general  Jackson  to  Pensacola, 
being  now  therefore  at  an  end,  he  returned  to  the  Ame- 
rican territory,  and  made  preimrations  for  the  defence  of 
New  Oi'leans. 

From  this  period,  the  early  part  of  November,  until 
the  middle  of  December,  the  naval  force  upon  the  sta- 


>  OF  TH£  IiAT£  WAK. 


347 


»f  IndiartS, 
expense  of 

es  had  al- 
a,  the  Hit- 
itia,  under 
mt  now  of 
ptness,  ile- 
acfcw  to  the 
the  govern- 
against  the 
tFntil  some 
to  prevent 
intercourse, 
become  no 
>f  annoying 
tiplied.    At 
sneral  Jack- 
ile,  did  not 
iting  for  tlie 
r  ccilected  a 
I  the  occupa- 
ki,  the  town 
lace    he  Te- 
it  to  tbe  oc* 
they  should 
initv'a  troops 
•  neutrality, 
regardless, 
and  after  a 
ackson  car- 
liance  with 
thtj  British 
incipal  fort 
>low  up  the 
board  the 
le  Hdvanna. 
Pensacola, 
|o  the  Ame- 
defence  of 

Imbe/,  until 
Ion  the  sta- 


tion  was  gradually  incretsing;  it  amomtted  at  lencth  to 
60  sail,  composed  principally  of  ships  of  the  line,  heayy 
frigates,  and  transports,  and  comprised  of  the  command 
of  admiral  Warren,  and  the  detachment  from  Bermuda. 
On  board  this  formidable  fleet,  was  as  anny  of  nearly 
16,000  men,  detailed  frf>m  the  grand  army  of  the  Duke  of 
Wellington,  ami  placed  under  the  chief  cimimand  of  sir 
iv^wardPackenha'in,  th*'  ^^'i*c  of  that  distinguished  gene 
ral.  To  this  army  wac  attached  a  general  stafT,  selected 
from  the  ablest  officers  of  the  army  of  the  continent  and 
including  majors  generals  Gribbs,  Keane,  and  Lambert.  •< 
To  watch  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  to  apprise 
the  commander  in  chief  at  New  Orleans,  cf  the  advance 
of  the  fleet,  commodore  Patterson,  commanding  on  the 
naval  station  there,  despatched  Ave  gun  boats,  under  lieu* 
tensnt  Jones,  to  the  pass  Chrisdan.    These  boats  consist- 
ed of  No.  5i  sailing  master  Ferris ;  £3,  lieutenant  MlCee- 
vcr;  150,  lieutenant  ccnnmandin^  Jones;  162,  lieutenant 
Speddon;  1^3,  sailing  master  Ulnck;  and  carried  33  guns, 
and   182  men.     The  Sea  Horse  tend»ir,  sailing  master 
JohiiHon,  had  been  sent  into  the  bay  of  St  Louis,  on  ^ 
morniriff  of  Ihe  13th  December,  to  remove  the  public 
stores  &om  the  ai^acent  shore,  und  was  attempted  to 
be  c«it  ont  by  three  British  despatch  boats,  whom  she  re- 
pulsed with  considerable   loss.     Her   commander  then 
anchored  her,  at  an  advantageous  portion  near  the  bank 
of  the  lake,  on  which  were  stationed  two  G-pouiders,  and 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  same  barges,  and  a  reinforce- 
ment of  four  others.     The  Sea  Horse  was  vigorously 
attacked,  but  continued  to  resist  '.ler  assaiiantn  upwards 
of  30  minutes,  when  sailing  master  Johiiiscn  ser  fire  to 
her,  escaped  to  the  shore,  and  destroyed  the  deposit  af 
provisions  and  stor^Se     Lieutenant  Jones,  havmg  m^w 
^i^covered  that  a  squwJron  of  barges  was  on  its  way  to 
die  pass,  made  {arrangements  to  repulse  an  a<tt»€k,  and 
for  that  purpose,  ordered  the  commanders  of  the  boats, 
to  form  a  line  abreast  across  Malheureux  island  ehaimel, 
with  springs  upon  ijfi'd  cables.    At  daylight  of  the  15th, 
the  enemy  approached.    The  United  States'  tender,  Al- 
ligator, being  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  the  ffun 
boats,  in  attempting  to  join  them,  was  easily  captured  by 
a  detachment  of  barges,  and  the  British  sipiaflrou,  con- 
sisting of  43  barges,  and  3  gigr,  mounting  43  guns,  toid 


!UJJi''iHM"» 


mmm 


348 


UISTORSCAI.  SKETCHES 


r" 


t  ^ 

i 


c&rrying  120Q  men,  under  the  orders  of  captain  Lockyer, 
formed  also  a  line  abreast,  in  open  (Htler,  and  commenced 
an  engagement  Three  of  them  attempted  to  board  No. 
156,  iieutenismt  Jones's  boat,  but  were  promptly  repulsed, 
>vith  the  loss,  too,  of  all  their  officers.  A  seccmd  ai^mpt 
was,  a  little  while  after,  mad«  by  four  other  barges,  with 
no  greater  success.  Against  this  boat  alone,  15  of  the 
barges  were  at  one  moment  engaged,  and  lieutenant  Jones, 
having  been  wounded,  and  compelled  to  go  below,  and 
the  master's  mate,  Parker,  after  defending  her  to  ^e  ut- 
most of  his  skill,  being  also  wounded,  t»e  enemy  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  her,  and  turning  her  gun  against  tlie 
other  ^n  boate.  With  this  acquisition  to  his  strength, 
the  Bntish  commander  obtained  a  more  easy  conquest, 
which  was  completed  by  the  surrender  of  No.  23,  lieute- 
nant M'Keever,  who  held  out  to  the  last  This  contest 
was  as  desi perate  as  it  was  unequal ;  and  the  loss  on  board 
the  flotilla,  amounted  to  6  men  killed,  and  35  wounded; 
on  board  the  enemy's  squadron,  it  was  nearly  300. 

By  the  capture  of  the  gun  boats,  the  principal  protec- 
tion to  the  coast  was  lost  and  the  enemy  had  it  in  his 
power,  to  move  at  pleasure,  and  select  anj  point  at  which 
the  greatest  facility  to  the  landing  of  his  troops^  would 
be  afforded.  Accordingly,  having  collected  at  the  Isle  aux 
Poix,  near  the  entrance  of  Pearl  river,  a  division  of  his 
army,  of  upwards  of  3000  men,  under  major  general 
Keane,  and  having  ascertained,  that  a  landing  might  be 
effected,  at  the  bayou  Catalan^  the  light  brigade,  the  4th, 
85th,  and  95th  regiments,  Lane's  rocketteers,  and  100 
tappers  tmtd  miners,  were  embarked  in  boats,  under  co- 
lonel Thornton;  and  the  21  at,  44th,  and  93d  regiments, 
under  colonel  Brooke;  and  the  artillery,  under  major 
Muiiro,  in  small  vessels.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d, 
(December)  this  expedition,  having  sailed  through  the 
lake  Borgne,  landed  at  the  head  of  the  bayou.  Under 
the  onmediate  directicm  of  colonel  Thornton,  a  communi- 
cation was  opened  through  the  fields  of  cane^  the  troops 
advanced  upon  the  high  road,  surprised  and  captured  an 
American  picquet,  passed  fort  Villere,  and  possessed  a 
position  on  general  Viller6's  plantation,  nine  miles  below 
New  Orleans,  with  their  right  on  the  road,  and  the  left 
resting  on  the  Mississippi.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  they 
werc^  followed  by  general  Keane,  and  the  remainder  of 


OF  THE  XATE  WAR. 


S4§ 


n  Lockyer, 
ommenced 
r  board  No. 
y  repulsed, 
nd  attempt 
arges,  with 
,  15  of  the 
snantJonea, 
below,  and 
ir  to  the  ut- 
enemy  8uc- 
against  tlie 
lis  strength, 
y  conquest, 
.  23,  heute- 
rhis  contest 
OSS  on  board 
S  wounded; 
300. 

iipal  protec- 
had  it  in  his 
int,  at  which 
oops,  would 
the  Isle  aux 
ision  of  his 
ijor  ffcneral 
ing  might  be 
Me,  the  4th, 
,  and  100 
under  co- 
regiments, 
nder  niajor 
of  the  23d, 
hrough  the 
rou.    Under 
la  communi- 
L  the  troops 
baptured  an 
[possessed  a 
Imiles  below 
Ind  the  left 
le  day,  they 
emaindet  of 


the  troops,  who  immediately  bivouacked,  and  were  per- 
mitted to  sleep  in  the  utmost  security.  The  mansion- 
house  of  general  Villerfe,  was  ocGupi<  '  as  the  British 
head  quarters. 

The  promulgation  of  the  loss  of  the  gu ..  boats,  and  of 
the  entire  command  of  lake  Boigne,  having  been  thence 
given  to  the  enemy,  produced  a  scene  of  bustle  and  con- 
fusion in  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  which  could  only  be 
allayed  by  the  activity  and  energy  of  the  commander  in 
chief.     Thp  confidence  with  which  he  had  already  in- 
spired the  citizens,  enabled  him  to  turn  this  disaster  to 
an  eventual  advantage,  and  to  animate  the  re^lars  and 
volunteers,  with  a  patriotic  impatience  to  drive  oflf  the 
invaders  of  the  territory.    He  instantly  despatched  ex- 
presses in  all  directions,  sent  out  messengers  to  briga- 
dier general  Coffee,  at  Baton  Rouge,  to  come  forth  with, 
his  brigade  of  2000  mounted  volunteers,  and  made  a  call 
upon  major  general  Carroll,  of  the  Tennessee,  and  gene- 
ral Thomas,  of  the  Louisiana  militia,  to  organize  and  en- 
large their  divisions.     General  Adair  was  already  on  his 
march  from  Kentucky,  with  2500  volunteers  from  that 
state ;  and  before  the  British  could  approach  the  city  by 
land,  these  forces  would  in  all  probability,  be  concentra- 
ted under  the  eye  of  the  commanding  general.    Mean- 
while, all  the  bayous,  canals,  and  roads  leading  to  and 
from  New  Orleans,  were  well  reconnoitred,  and  upon 
those  which  the  general  thought  to  be  passable,  fortifi- 
cations, breastworks,  and  other  defences,  were  erected. 
Commodore  Patterson  was  no  less  active  in  supplying 
the  places  of  the  seamen  who  had  been  capturecl.    The 
United  States'  schooner  Carolina,  captain  Henley,   was 
sufficiently  manned ;  but  the  sloop  of  war  Louisiana,  had 
not  one  sixth  of  her  crew  on  board;  and  governor  Clai- 
borne, who  neglected  no  means  of  co-operating  wi^  the 
arrangements  of  major  general  Jackson,  and  of  giving 
the  utmost  facility  to  the  execution  of  his  orders,  recom- 
mended an  embargo  to  the  legislature,  to  prevent  the  de- 
parture, in  any  way  whatever,  of  foreign  or  native  sailors. 
To  lieutenaift  C.  C.  B.  Thompson,  of  the  United  States' 
navy,  he  issued  a  commission  of  captain  commandant  of 
sea  fencibles,  to  enable  him  in  this  trying  emergency,  to 
press  and  compel  the  services  of  anv  seamen  the-,  on 
shore.    Being  clothed  with  this  authority,  that  officer  im- 

Gg  '     •  ^ 


(f 


t 

if 


llif 


wmmmmm 


wm^ 


It 


350 


UISTOBICAX.  SKETCHES 


mediately  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of 
sailors  and  marines,  and  pressed  a  crew  in  the  streets  of  the 
city,  composed  of  sailors  of  several  nations,  speaking  differ- 
ent languages,  and  incapable  of  understanding  the  orders 
of  their  commanders,  or  the  words  of  each  other.  By  the 
ikcommon  exertions  of  lieutenant  Thompson,  however, 
wnose  gallantry  rendered  him  not  less  conspicuous,  than 
his  fortunate  acquaintance  with  the  languages  of  these  se- 
parate countries  to  which  the  sailors  belonged,  they  were 
m  a  fortnight  brought  to  a  good  state  of  discipline.  In  ad- 
dition to  all  these  preparations,  general  Jackson  pro- 
claimed martial  law,  and  the  peop^  of  Orleans  became 
confident  of  their  ability  to  resist  tne  British  forces. 

Before  the  occupation  of  general  Viller^'s  ground,  on 
the  23d,  by  general  Keane,  the  Tennessee  volunteers 
^nd  militia,  had  arrived,  and  were  encamped  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  4  miles  above  *New  Orleans. 
Brigadier  general  Morgan  was  stationed  with  350  of  the 
drafted  militia  of  Louisiana,  at  tiie  English  Turn  below. 
As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  advance  of  major  general 
Keane  was  made  known  to  general  Jackson,  he  ordered 
detachments  to  be  made  from  the  division  of  general 
Carroll,  and  the  brigade  of  general  Coffee's  mounted  vo- 
lunteers, and  sent  round  to  his  own  position  below  the 
city.  These  detachments  were  commanded  by  generals 
Carroll  and  Coffee,  in  person.  Being  resolved  upon  at- 
tacking the  British  in  their  encampment,  general  Jack- 
son directed  general  Carroll  to  remain  on  the  Oentilly 
road,  to  provide  against  the  enemy's  approach  from  Chef- 
MenteuVt  and  immediately  marched  with  general  Car- 
roll's brigade,  parts  of  the  7th  and  44th  regiments,  ma- 
jor Hind's  dragoons,  some  uniform  companies  of  militia, 
under  major  Plauch6,  200  men  of  colour  under  major 
Daquin,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery  under  colonel 
M'Rea;  a  force  in  all  not  exceeding  1500  men.  The  Caro- 
lina, commanded  by  capt.  Henley,  and  bearing  the  broad 
pendant  of  commodore  Patterson,  proceeded  down  the  ri- 
ver, to  co-operate  in  the  attack;  orders  having  been  first 
E'ven  to  lieut.  commandant  Thompson  to  fdllow  with  the 
ouisiana.  At  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  general  arrived 
near  the  enemy's  encampment,  when  he  discovered  that 
the  British  force  extended  nearly  a  mile  along  the  river, 
and^  directed  gen.  Coffee  to  turn  their  right,  whilst  with 


OF  TH£  LATE  WAR. 


351 


ichtnent  of 
reetsofthe 
kingdiffer- 
the  orders 
r.    By  the 
1,  however, 
uous,  than 
of  these  se- 
,  they  were 
ine.  Inad- 
ckson  pro- 
ins  became 
orces. 
ground,  on 
volunteers 
on  the  left 
w  Orleans. 
350  of  the 
^urn  below, 
or  general 
he  ordered 
of  general 
kounted  vo- 
below  the 
)y  generals 
d  upon  at- 
leral  Jack- 
ie Oentilly 
from  Chef- 
neral  Gar- 
ments, ma- 
of  militia, 
ider  major 
er  colonel 
The  Caro- 

the  broad 
)wn  the  ri- 

been  first 
w  with  the 
ral  arrived 
►vered  that 
5  the  river, 
vhilst  with 


the  residue  of  his  troops,  he  would  attack  the  line  on  the 
left  near  the  river.  Commodore  Patterson  was  first,  how- 
ever, to  open  the  fire  of  the  Carolina,  as  the  signal  for 
the  general  assault.  This  being  done,  ^e  enemy's  troops 
were  immediately  aroused  from  the  slumber  and  peace- 
ful security,  in  which  they  had  indulged.  The  fire  from  the 
starboard  battery  of  the  Carolina  produced  a  destructive 
effect  upon  the  British  flank.    General  Jackson  made  a 

Erompt  advance  upon  its  left,  and  genera!  Coffee,  who 
ad  dismoanted  his  men,  to  give  them  a  freer  and  more 
certain  use  of  the  rifle,  rushea  upon  its  right,  and  threw 
himself  within  the  enemy's  encampment.  So  unexpectr 
ed  and  disastrous  was  this  attack  upon  his  position,  that 
the  British  commander  was  filled  with  amazement,  and 
for  a  moment  scarcely  knew  in  what  manner  to  give  it  a 
repulse;  but  summoning  to  his  immediate  assistance, 
that  sagacity  and  military  experience,  which  he  could 
not  have  failed  to  acquire  in  his  European  campaigns,  he 
put  his  troops  in  motion  to  resist  the  nearer  approaches 
of  his  antagonist.  The  advance  of  general  Coffee  nad  been 
made  across  the  plantations  of  colonel  Laronde  and  ma- 
jor Lacost^,  on  the  latter  of  which  he  drove  in  the  pic- 
quet  guards,  and  encountered  the  British  85th  regiment, 
under  colonel  Gubbin,  which  did  not  stand  to  receive 
more  tlian  one  fire,  when  it  fell  back  to  the  centre  of  the 
encampment  General  Coffee  then  filed  his  division  ob- 
liquely to  his  risht,  attacked  a  party  of  the  enem;^  sta- 
tioned in  several  small  huts,  and  succeeded  in  driving  it 
also  from  that  position. 

The  right  division  of  general  Jackson's  anny  was  all 
this  time  engaged  with  t  -mel  Thornton's  light  brigade. 
The  action  commenced  vith  an  attack  made  by  Uie  Tth 
infantry,  under  major  Piere.  who  was  immediately  jmned 
by  the  44th,  whic^>  formed  upon  his  left  under  colwiel 
Koss.  To  these  .ete  soon  aaded  the  militia,  under  ma- 
jor Plauche,  Sa\ary's  volunteers,  and  the  command  of 
major  Daquin ;  and  at  t'  e  moment  when  this  ccps  took 
its  post  on  the  left  of  the  whole  line,  the  conflict  was  ani- 
mated, desperate  and  sanguinary.  Colonel  M'Rea's  two 
pieces  were  al8r>  engaged  on  the  extreme  right  ot  the  7th 
regiment,  and  kept  up  an  incessant  and  pffe<  tive  fire.  Co- 
lonel Thornton's  line  greatly  outflanking  the  American 


mmmmmm 


mmmmmm 


352 


HISTORICAL  8K£TCH£1S 


1' 


'r 
i' 


ri^t  division,  an  attempt  was  made,  without  effect,  to 
turn  the  battalion  of  major  Daquin,  and  an  impetuous  ef- 
fort to  carry  the  artillery  on  the  other  extremity  of  the 
line.  The  firmness  of  Daquin's  battalion,  and  the  instan- 
taneous advance  of  the  centre,  followed  by  a'  chftrse 
from  the  7th  and  44th,  compelled  the  enemy  gradually 
to  retire,  and  left  the  division  under  general  Jackson,  in 
possession  of  the  ground  first  occupied  by  colonel  Thorn- 
ton. This  was  the  moment  at  which  general  Coffee, 
having  felt  his  way  to  the  Old  Levee,  near  the  margin  of 
Lacoste's  plantation,  placed  himself  almost  in  the  rear  of 
the  same  ground,  and  annoyed  the  enemy  with  great 
success  in  nis  retreat.  With  this  repulse,  and  the  re- 
union of  the  two  divisions  of  the  American  line,  the  con-^ 
test  of  the  23d  terminated.  Fortune  was  runixins  full  in 
favour  of  general  Jackson's  troops,  and  he  was  in  eager 
expectation  of  capturing  the  whole  of  the  invading  divi- 
sion;  but  a  heavy  fog,  to  which  that  country  is  subject, 
set  in,  and  entirely  destroyed  his  prospects.  He  there- 
fore condensed  his  force,  remained  upon  the  field  all 
night,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  assumed  a 
position  of  more  strength,  2  mues  nearer  th<?  city.  In 
»his  action,  the  Americans  lost  213,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  mmms.  Colonel  Lauderdale,  of  general  Coffee's 
brigade,  f«lT  at  tlie  head  of  his  regiment  in  one  of  the 
charts;  colonels  Dym-  and  Gibbop,  were  each  severely 
wounded,  and  major  Kavenaugh  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  On  the  side  of  the  British,  whose  loss 
amounted  to  nearly  400  men,  several  officers  were  also 
severely  wounded. 

The  vigour*,  impetuosity,  and  decision  of  this  attack, 
upon  their  first  disembarkation,  caused  the  British  com- 
manders, even  after  the  increase  of  their  numbers,  to  ad- 
vance with  more  caution.  They  therefore  commenced 
the  erection  of  batteiies,  in  order  to  make  their  approach- 
es ^^adual,  and  destroy  the  naval  force  then  in  the  river. 
The  Carolina  had  contmued,  during  the  whole  course  of 
the  engagement  of  Ihe  23d,  to  discnai^e  her  broadsides 
into  the  enemy's  encampment,  and  succeeded  in  driving 
from  the  mamn  of  the  shore,  the  musketry  and  rocket- 
teers,  wlio  had  previously  been  stationed  there.  At  2,  on 
the  morning  of  the  24(h,  lieut  commandant  Thoinpson 


OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


$53 


eflfect,  to 
ituous  ef- 
ty  of  the 
le  instan- 
a'  charge 
^aduallj 
ckson,  in 
si  Thorn- 
il  Coffee, 
nargin  of 
le  rear  of 
ith  great 
i  the  re- 
the  con* 
1^  full  in 
in  eager 
ling  divi- 
s  subject. 
He  there- 
field  all 
ssumed  a 
city.  In 
tvounded. 
Coffee's 
rie  of  the 
severely 
hands  of 
lose  loss 
vere  also 

8  attack^ 
tish  com- 
rs,  to  ad- 
nnienced 
ipproach- 
the  river, 
c^ourse  of 
oad  sides 
1  driving 
1  rocket- 
At  2,  on 
OQipson 


joined  commodore  Patterson,  with  the  Louisiana,  the 
calmness  of  the  weather  having  prevented  her  reaching 
the  scene  of  action  before.    On  that  day  a  northwest 
wind,  which  blew  a  heavy  gale,  prevented  either  of 
these  vessels  from  proceeding  up  tne  river,  to  anchor 
abreast  of  the  position,  at  wnich  general  Jackson  had 
posted  himself;  and  its  prevalence  during  the  25th  and 
26th)  t(^ether  with  the  sudden  rise  of  the  river,  and  the 
strength  and  rapidity  of  the  current  compelled  the  com- 
modore to  remain  all  that  time  before  the  enemy.    This 
he  did  not,  without  keeping  up  an  occasional  nre  from 
both  vessels.    The  British  were  in  the  mean  time,  em- 
ployed in  erecting  furnaces  for  hot  shot,  immediately 
abreast  of  the  Louisiana  and  Carolina.    On  the  26th, 
commodore  Patterson,  in  obedience  to  tiie  wishes  of  ge> 
neral  Jackson,  left  the  Carolina,  and  proceeded  to  New 
Orleans,    to  man  and  arm  as  many  merchantmen,   as 
might  be  fitted  to  bear  the  weight  of  heavy  cannon,  and 
to  support  him  with  such  a  squadron,  until  the  line  of 
breastworks,  at  his  new  position,  should  be  completed. 
Captun  Henley,  and  lieutenant  commandant  Thompson, 
tiierefore,  made  every  effort  to  remove  from  the  anchor- 
age opposite  the  enemy's  batteries,  but  their  attempts 
were  abortive,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  bat- 
tery nearest  the  Carolina,  opened  with  hot  shot  and 
shells.    The  second  shot  lodged  in  the  main  hold,  under 
the  cables,  in  a  situation  too  intricate  to  be  approached, 
and  she  immediately  took  fire,  which  increased  so  rapid- 
ly, that  captain  Henley,  being  fearful  about  the  explo- 
sion of  her  magazine,  gave  orders  to  the  crew  to  aban- 
don her.     The  event  justified  the  captain's  apprehen- 
sions, for  he  had  scarcely  reached  the  shore,  opposite  the 
enemy,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed,  and  six  wounded, 
when  she  blew  asunder.    The  Louisiana  then  sustained 
the  whole  fire,  until  her  situation  became  extremely  dan- 
gerous.   To  have  lost  her,  would  have* been  to  lose  the 
whole  co-operative  naval  force,  and  lieutenant  comman- 
dant Thompson  attempted  to  get  up  the  river,  under  the 
favour  of  a  light  breeze.     His  efforts  were,  however,  con- 
stantly baffled,  until  his  skilful  management  rose  supe- 
rior to  the  obstacles  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  and  ne, 
at  length,  succeeded  in  getting  her  near  general  Jackson's 
position. 

Gg2 


■li^ww! 


^"W 


354 


HISTORICAr  SKETCHES 


After  the  destruction  of  the  Carolina,  the  enemy  moved 
upon  this  position,  which  general  Jackson  had  been  in- 
cessantly strengthening  with  artillery,  and  some  rein- 
forcing Detachments.    Major  eeneral  sir  Edward  Packen-  .^ 
ham  had  previously  landed  with  the  reserve  of  the  army, ' 
and  superintendedfthe  present  movement  in  person.    At 
the  distance  of  800  yards  from  the  line  of  defence,  sir 
Edward  commenced  nis  attack,  upon  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  by  throwing  bomb  shells  and  rockets,  opening  a 
heavy  an^  continual  cannonade,  and  gradually  advancing 
upon  this  position,  with  the  left  column  under  eeneral 
Keane,  in  front,  and  hoping  to  compel  general  Jackson 
to  retire  to  the  city.    Tne  batteries  at  the  line  Jacki^on 
were  immediately  opened,  and  general  Keane's  column 
obliged  to  seek  protection  behind  some  houses,  which 
are  scattered  in  the  field  near  and  about  the  Levee. 
SeVeral  heavy  pieces  were  planted  by  the  enemy,  under 
cover  of  which  sir  Edward  intended  to  storm  the  Ame-* 
rican  works.    From  two  guns  there,  however,  his  column 
was  kept  in  check,  and  he  was  chiefly  employed  in  throw- 
ing shells  upon  the  Louisiana,  with  the  fragments  of 
which  her  decks  were  covered.    As  the  British  advanced 
upon  the  works,  lieutenant  Thompson  sprung  the  ship 
so  as  to  bring  her  starboard  broadside  to  bear  upon,  and 
enfilade  the  column.    From  eight  guns,  he  kept  up  so  in- 
cessant and  destructive  a  fire,  that  in  several  hours  lOQ 
rounds  were  discharged  from  each ;  and  after  a  violent 
struggle,  of  that  length  of  time,  to  dislodge  the  American 
troops,  the  enemy  was  forcibly  repulsed,  and  withdrew 
beyond  the  reach  of  immediate  annoyance.    Here,  again, 
as  may  more  naturally  be  supposed,  the  Americans,  being 
protected  by  breastwork?,  tne  loss  of  the  enemy  very 
far  exceeded  that  of  general  Jackson's  camp.    He  is  re- 
ported to  have  lost  upwards  of  250  men,  whilst  the  Ame- 
rican loss  amounted  to  17;  9  of  whom  were  killed  ahd  8 
wounded.    Among  the  killed  was  colonel  Henderson,  of 
general  Carrol's  division  of  Tennessee  militia,  which  had 
Just  before  encamped  at  the  line.    He  had  been  sent  out 
of  the  left  extremity  of  the  works,  to  drive  off  a  party 
of  the  enemy,  who  had  made  a  lodgment  near  the  wood« 
and  was  killed  in  the  first  eflS>rt  to  execute  this  order. 
Among  the  wounded  was  mmor  Carmick,  of  the  marine 
corps,  whose  horse  and  iiimseff  were  wounded  by  a  Con- 
greve  rocket. 


I 


moved 
een  in- 
le  rein- 
'acken-  ,^ 
e  army,  * 
m.    At 
nee,  sir 
5  of  the 
enin^  a 
vancinff 
eenerai 
Ackson 
Jackdon 
column 
I,  which 
i  Levee. 
•,  under 
le  Ame- 
\  column 
n  throw- 
nents  of 
advanced 
the  ship 
pon,  and 
up  so  in- 
ours  100 
a,  violent 
imerican 
vithdrew 
re,  again, 
ns,  being 
my  very 
ie  is  re- 
he  Ame- 
edahdS 
erson,  of 
hichhad 
sent  out 
a  party 
le  wood, 
is  order. 
i  marine 
y  a  Con- 


or THE  LATEi  WAll. 


355. 


Having  still  further  enlarged  his  forces,  by  new  de- 
tachments of  sailors,  soldiers  and  marines,  and  finding 
that  he  had  not  yet  made  any  impression  upon  the  un- 
finished breastworks,  sir  Edward  Packenham  lost  no  time 
in  the  construction  of  batteries,  and  the  planting  of  heavy 
pieces  of  cannon.    The  American  general  was  no  less  in- 
dustrious, in  enlat^ng  and  improvins  his  means  of  de- 
fence, and  each  was  exercising  nis  military  energies,  un- 
der the  harassingfire  of  the  other.    On  the  SOth  Decem- 
ber, commodore  Patterson  opened  a  24  pounder  batterv, 
which  he  had  secretly  erected  on  the  night  of  the  29th, 
on  the  extreme  risht  of  the  line,  and  so  situated,  as  to 
bear  upon  the  Old  Levee,  and  any  part  of  the  field.  The 
effect  of  this  fire,  united  to  several  rapid  discharges  from 
the  Louisiana,  upon  the  enemy's  advance,  drove  the  Bri* 
tish  from  their  works.   On  the  Slst  two  t2  pounders  were 
landed  from  the  Louisiana,  and  mounted  behind  the  Le- 
vee.   On  £hat  day,  sir  Edward  Packenham  kept  up  a  can- 
nonade for  several  hours,  and  received  a  continnai  return 
of  artillery  and  musketry. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  January,  1815, 
sir  Edward  haviiig  in  the  course  of  the  preceding  night 
ejected  two  formidable  batteries,  commenced  a  discharge 
of  heavy  cannon,  shells,  and  Congreve  rockets,  much 
more  animated  and  successful  than  any  other  with  which 
they  had  assailed  the  American  works.    Several  gun  car- 
riages within  camp  Jackson,  were  destroyed,  and  con^^ 
siderable  damaee  done  to  the  guns  themselves.    The 
head  quarters  or  the  commanding  general  sustained  the 
shock  of  numberless  rockets  and  Balls,  and  the  enemy 
was  paraded  in  the  ditches  near  his  batteries,  in  readi- 
ness to  storm  the  work,  as  soon  as  the  cannon  should  be 
silenced.    The  explosion  of  a  magazine  at  one  moment 
gave  them  a  hope,  that  the  garrison  was  dispirited  and 
nearly  overcome;  but  at  the  next,  the  rapid  and  tremen- 
dous discharge  of  artillery,  evinced  the  determined  cha^ 
racter  of  the  brave  volunteers.    A  second  attempt  was 
made  to  reconnoitre  the  left  of  the  works,  resting  on  the 
woods,  with  a  view  to  turn  the  extreme  left  battalion 
of  general  Coffee's  brig»Se.     But  the  party  detached 
for  that  purpose,  returned  to  sir  Edward  with  infor- 
mation ol  the  impracticability  of  such  an  assault  upon 
that  extremity  of  the  line.    He,  nevertheless,  continued 


356 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


the  cannonade  upwards  of  five  hours,  and  forwarded  his 
heaviest  pieces  m  advance  of  his  main  body.  At  the 
end  of  that  time,  he  fell  back  to  his  encampment,  and 
adopted  a  measure  by  which  to  reduce  the  place.  The 
Louisiana  did  not  participate  in  this  engagement,  be- 
cause it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  erected  se- 
veral batteries  on  the  edge  of  the  river,  from  which  they 
intended  to  throw  hot  shot  into  her,  and  commodore 
Patterson,  therefore,  ordered  her  to  be  kept  without  the 
range  of  shot,  and  her  men  were  landed  to  assist  at  the 
batteries. 

General  Jackson's  encampment  was  now  every  day 
strengthened  by  numbers.  Major  general  Viller^,  tiie 
present  governor  of  Louisiana,  had  arrived  on  the  30th 
and  31st,  with  a  division  of  Louisiana  militia;  major  ge- 
neral Thomas,  commanding  a  second  division  of  500 
men!,  encamped  at  the  close  of  the  Ist  of  January,  in  tiie 
rear  of  the  works;  and  on  the  4th,  general  Adair^  divi- 
sion of  Kentucky  militia,  amounting  to  upwards  of  2200 
men,  not  one  half  of  whom  were  armed,  reported  to  the 
commander  in  chief,  and  were  stationed  on  the  planta- 
tion of  LanguiUet  with  the  exception  of  a  detachment  of 
700  men,  who  were  placed  upon  the  line.  General  Mor- 
gan had,  previously  to  the  battle  of  the  S8th,  been  direct- 
ed to  witndraw  hie  troops  from  the  Envlish  Turn,  and  to 
Sost  himself  on  the  rig^t  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  imme- 
iately  opposite  general  Jackson's  line.  In  addition  to 
tiiese  dispositions  of  his  troops,  who  now  amounted  to 
3846,  including  the  batteries  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
the  general  had  caused  several  successive  lines  of  in- 
trencimients  and  breastworks  to  be  formed  in  his  rear,  as 
places  of  retreat,  in  the  event  of  the  enemy's  successfully 
scaling  the  parapet  of  his  present  works. 

Betore  the  eighth  of  the  month,  general  Jackson  had 
eight  distinct  batteries  constructed,  mounting  in  all  12 
guns,  of  different  calibre,  the  largest  however  being  a  32 
pounder,  under  command  of  lieutenant  Crawley,  late  of 
the  Carolina.  The  works  were  one  mile  in  extent,  from 
the  river  to  the  Cjrpress  Swamp,  and  terminated  in  a  bend 
to  the  left  of  about  200  yarcuB.  On  the  right  of  these 
works  were  stationed  the  Tth  regiment,  major  Plauch6, 
major  Lacoste,  and  major  Daauin's  battalions^  and  Ihe 
44tn  regiment,  amoanti^  in  all  to  1389  men»  and  com- 


er  THE  LATE  WAR. 


357 


n  had 
all  1£ 

a  32 
late  of 
I,  from 

bend 

these 
iuch6, 
Id  the 

com- 


manded by  colonel  Ross  of  the  44th;  the  centre  wa6 
composed  of  general  Carroll's,  and  part  of  general 
Adair's  division,  and  amounted  to  1600  men;  on  the 
left  was  stationed  the  command  of  general  Coifee,  whose 
brigade  consisted  of  500  men ;  so  that  the  whole  line  was 
defended  by  3489  men.  On  the  opposite  side,  the 
works  erected  by  general  Morgan  were  defended  by  276 
of  the  Louisiana  contingent,  176  of  the  2d  or  colonel 
Cavalier's  regiment,  and  tiie  Ist  and  part  of  the  6th, 
compiising  110,  under  colonel  Degian,  the  whole  amount* 
ing;  to  546  men.  To  these  were  added,  on  the  night  of 
the  27th,  a  reinforcement  of  500  men,  from  general 
Adair's  Kentucky  militia,  under  colonel  Davis.  Com- 
modore Patterson  erected  further  batteries  on  the  same 
side  of  the  river,  to  annoy  the  approach  of  th$  enemy, 
if  he  should  attempt  it,  along  the  Levee  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river,  and  in  the  line  which  covered  general  Mor- 
gan's troops  were  planted  ope  12-pounder,  and  two  brass 
sixes. 

Sir  Edward  Packenham,  having  been,  reinforced  by 
his  fusileers,  and  the  43d  infiantry,  which  au^efited  his 
strength  to  12000  regulars,  and  2000  seamen,  and  having 
at  inti^rvals,  during  the  nieht,  between  the  1  tt  and  the 
8tli  oi  le  month,  stren^ened  his  battery,  "ith  heavy 
pieces  ot  cannon,  determined  on  a  vigorous  asbault  upon 
the  American  works  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  With 
this  view,  colonel  Thornton,  to  whom  was  entrusted  the 
attack  upon  general  Morgan,  was  to  cross  the  Mississippi, 
in  boats  and  launches,  which  had  been  transported  tor 
that  purpose,  during  the  night,  with  a  corps  consisting  of 
the  85th  light  infantry,  200  seamen,  and  400  marines, 
the  5th  West  India  regiment,  and  4  pieces  of  artillery. 
The  assault  upon  the  works  commanded  by  general 
Jackson,  was  to  be  made  in  two  divisions.  The  right 
under  major  general  Gibbs,  and  ci/itiosed  of  the  4tfi, 
21st,  and  44th  regiments,  was  to  attaci'  the  centre  of  tfie 
works;  and  major  general  Keane,  ^v^g  to  lead  the  3d 
brigade,  composed  of  tiie  43d,  the  93il,  and  parts  of  the 
95tn,  and  the  fusileers,  on  the  road  on  the  river  side,  to 
the  attack  of  the  extreme  right  The  reserve  was  con- 
stituted of  the  first  brigade,  and  commanded  by  major 
seneral  Lambert.  To  cover  this  operation,  an  advanced 
battery,  of  six  18-pounders,  was  thrown  up  during  the 


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358 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


night  of  the  7th.  .  General  Jack  in  was  apprised  of  this 
intended  movement,  by  the  unusual  stir  and  bustle  which 
was  perceptible  in  the  British  camp,  and  made  provision 
for  the  reception  of  the  assailants.  Colonel  Thornton 
c^uld  net  efltect  a  landing  at  the  contemplated  point,  but 
being  thruwn  2  or  3  miles  belov/,  a  delay  of  several 
hours  took  place,  and  the  attack  was  nov,  as  the  British 
general  intended  it  should  be,  simultaneous. 

The  engagement  commenced,  however,  on  the  left 
bank,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  by  an  unusual 
shower  of  bombs  and  Congreve  rockets;  tne  new  batte- 
ries opened,  and  sir  Edward  strove  iii  vain  to  effect  a 
breach,  or  to  demolish  the  parapet.  His  fire  was  vi^r- 
ously  returned  from  the  eight  batteries,  but  he,  notwith- 
standii^  ordered  his  two  divisions  to  advance,  which 
they  did  with  an  intrepidity  seldom  equally,  and  ex- 
pected to  plant  their  scaling  ladders  and  fascines.  The 
6th,  7th  and  8th  batteries,  covered  by  general  Carroll 
and  general  Adair,  who  succeeded  general  I'homas,  and 
sqpported  by  ^neral  Coffee's  riflemen,  kept  up  a  rapid 
and  tinusual  discharge  upon  general  Gibba'a  division,  and 
sweeping  't  from  ri^t  to  left,  compelled  him  very  isoon 
to  recoil  in  confusion.  The  most  active  efforts  were  im- 
mediately made  to  rally  the  troops,  and  bring  them  up 
to  a  second  assault,  and  in  this  act,  sir  Edwara  Packen- 
ham,  who  had  rode  to  the  front  to  animate  his  men,  re- 
ceived two  wounds,  one  of  which  struck  him  on  the  knee, 
and  the  other,  a  cannon  ball,  pierced  his  body,  and  cut 
him  to  pieces.  Mi^or  general  GKbbs,  however,  again 
led  up  the  same  column,  and  advanced  in  good  order,  to 
a  7ery  short  distance  from  the  line,  where  thejr  received 
as  animated  and  destructive  a  discharge  of  artillery  and 
musketry  as  before.  General  Gibbs  fell,  severely  wound- 
ed, and  the  column  again  fled  in  the  utmost  contusion. 

The  division  on  the  right  of  the  works,  under  general 
Keane,  made  a  very  prompt  advance  upon  the  redoubt 
there,  jumped  ondauntedly  into  the  ditch,  under  the  fire 
of  colonel  Ross's  command,  and  by  a  forcibh  effort, 
sained  the  redoubt,  by  entering  the  embrasures.  Hence, 
being  led  by  their  principal  engineer,  colonel  Renee, 
they  mounted  the  breastworks,  and  were  certain  of  vic- 
tory.   The  7th  regiment  fought  them  with  great  steadi- 


' 


wmmm 


of  this 
e  which 
rovision 
hornton 
int,  but 
several 
!  British 

the  left 
unusual 
w  batte- 
effect  a 
18  vi^r- 
notwith- 
f,  which 
and  ex- 
».    The 
Carroll 
aas,  and 
a  rapid 
ion,  and 
iry  joon 
were  im- 
them  up 
Packen- 
men,  re- 
he  knee, 
and  cut 
agun 
>rder,  to 
received 
lery  and 
wound- 
usion. 
'  general 
redoubt 
the  fire 
effort. 
Hence, 
Renee, 
of  vic- 
steadi- 


Oir  THE  LATE  WAR. 


559 


ness  and  perseverance;  the  batteries,  Nos.  1  and  2,  and 
tiie  ri^t  of  the  ririit  wing»  opened  a  o^mendons  fire. 
Colonel  Renee,  and  others,  were  killed;  major  general 
Keane  severely  wounded;  and  the  whole  column  precipi- 
tately fell  back,  and  retreated  in  the  ^atest  disorder. 
The  ditch  was  literally  filled  with  their  killed  andwonnd- 
eil,  and  a  large  proportion  of  their  men  made  prisoners. 
As  they  attempted  tii^ir  retreat  aloug  the  bank,  commo- 
dore Patterson  opened  the  batteries  from  the  opposite 
side,  and  did  very  extensive  execution.  The  only  general 
o^cer  now  left  upon  the  field  was  major  general  Lambert, 
who,  prompt!y  coming  up  with  the  reserve,  vainly  attempt- 
ed to  check  trie  flight  or  the  attackins  columns.  The  loss 
of  three  of  tilieir  geperals,  whose  bodies  they  saw  trans- 
ported from  the  field,  and  the  immense  slaughter  which 
the  field  itself  presented  to  them,  ai^ued  more  powerfully, 
than  the  commands  or  persuasions  of  general  Lambert, 
and  he  was  forced  to  take  a  position  out  of  reach  of  the 
American  line.  The  fire,  nevertheless,  did  not  cease,  but 
being  directed  against  the  British  batteries,  continued  un- 
til 2,  P.  M.  and  eventually  silenced  them.  The  assault 
was  then  entirely  abandoned,  and  general  Lambert  fell 
back  to  the  original  position,  to  consult  the  admiral  as  to 
the  prosecution  of  future  operations.  The  resuli  of  the 
conterence  determined  them  upon  returning  to  their  ship* 

King  with  as  much  order  and  celerity  as  possible.  But 
etbre  the  embarkation  could  actually  takd  place,  the  fate 
of  colonel  Thornton  was  to  be  known,  and  his  division 
collected  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river. 

When  the  attack  upon  the  main  works  was  commenced, 
that  officer  assailed,  with  greftt  impetuosity,  the  gun  bat- 
tery of  general  Morgan.  The  American  right  flank  re- 
tired before  him,  and  his  whole -attention  beine  turned 
towards  the  left,  a  sharp  and  animated  contest  followed ; 
but,  being  deserted  by  more  than  half  their  line,  and  far 
outnumbered  by  their  enemy,  the  troops  of  that  flank 
spiked  their  guns,  and  left  the  battery  in  possession  of 
the  assailants. 

The  success  which  attended  the  assault  of  col.  Thorn- 
ton, who  was  severely  wounded,  did  not  however  avail 
the  British  arms:  their  disaster  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  mad-   it  necessary  for  this  division  also  to  re- 


PipMWVnP'liPPpiPQr 


MHii^llHP.JIWBpW'l'eJ' 


'Wi«"W' 


366 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


tire;  ai^d,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  eeneral  Lambert, 
colonel  Gubbin,  on  whom  the  command  of  Thornton's 
division  had  devolved,  re^rossed  the  river,  and  fell  back 
upon  the  main  body,  and  before  the  18th  January,  the 
whole  nrmy  evacuated  the  shore. 

On  the  rollowineday,  the  9th,  admiral  Cochrane  direct- 
ed two  bomb  vessels,  one  sloop  of  war,  a  bri&  and  a  schoo^ 
ner,  to  statiicm  themselves  before  fort  St.  Philip,  witii  a 
view  to  its  bombardment  and  destruction.  On  that  day 
they  commenced  an  attack,  and  continued  throwing  shells 
into  the  fort  until  the  17th  in  the  evening,  when  the  com- 
mandant, majtM*  Overton,  opened  a  heavy  mortar  (not  until 
then  in*Teadiness),  and  threw  the  line  of  ships  into  such 
disorder,  that,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  tiiey  retired 
to  the  anchorage  of  the  fleet 

The  expedition,  which  had  been  thus  extensively  plan- 
nec^  in  En^nd,  and  for  the  fitting  out  of  which  an  im- 
mense treasure  had  been  exhausted,  was  thus  resisted, 
and  entirely  destroyed,  by  the  valour  and  perseverance  of 
a  small  army,  principally  made  up  of  volunteets  and  mili- 
tia, and  commanded  by  a  general,  whose  military  career, 
though  brilliant,  and  almost  unparalleled,  was  commenced 
but  two  years  before.  The  slau^ter  which  attended  this 
repulse  of  the  invading  army,  was,  on' their  side,  never  sur- 
passed at  any  other  mittle.  Besides  their  generals  and 
other  officers  of  hi^h  rank,  the  British  lost,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  about  4000  men.  The  American, 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  did  not  exceed  500. 

The  British  fleet,  however,  continued  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, and  on  the  10th  of  February,  gjeneral  I^ambert  hay- 
ing landed  near  fort  Bowyer,  with  a  large  body  of  his 
troops,  demanded  of  lieutenant  colonel  Lawrence  the  sur- 
render of  the  garrison.  In  its  rear  an  extensive  and  heavy 
battery  had  been  planted,  and  the  powerful  force  by  which 
it  was  surrounded,  made  it  expedient  that  the  fort  should 
capitulate  on  honourable  terms,  or  that  the  garrison  should 
suDhiit  to  the  sword.  Colonel  Lawrence  chose  that  line 
of  conduct  which  propriety  and  humanity  dictated,  and 
the  enemy  took  possession  of  the  fort. 

On  the  same  day,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Brazen 
arrived  off  the  station,  with  intelligence  that  a  treaty 
of  peace  had  been  concluded  between  the  American 


OF  THE  LATE  WAB« 


361 


Lambert* 
kornton's 
fell  back 
lar  J,  the 

e  direct- 
a  schoo^ 
>,  with  a 
that  day 
ng  shells 
the  corn- 
not  until 
nto  such 
Y  retired 

bIj  plan- 
h  an  im- 
resisted, 
erance  of 
ihd  mili- 
y  career, 
imenced 
Lded  this 
ever  sur- 
rals  and 
1  killed, 
merican, 
K). 

iighbour- 
>ert  hav- 
y  of  his 
the  sur- 
id  heavy 
>y  which 
t  should 
n  should 
that  line 
;ed,  and 

Brazen 

treaty 
merican 


and  British  ambassadors  at  Ghent,  which  had  met  the  ap- 
probation of  the  prince  regent  of  Eneland.  Not  long  af- 
ter, general  Jackson  was  apprised  oy  the  secretary  of 
war,  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  by  the  president  and 
senate,  and  all  hostilities  immediately  ceased.  A  regu- 
lar and  mutual  exchange  of  prisoners  was  entered  upon, 
and  the  volunteers  and  militia  were  honourably  discharg- 
ed, and  sent  to  their  homes,  with  the  gratitude  and  ap- 
plause of  their  country. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Jfavy — Loss  of  the  United  States* frigate  President 
•—The  Constitution  engages  and  captures  the  British 
frigate  Cyane,  and  sloop  of  war  Levant — Capture  of 

.  the  sloop  of  war  Penguin,  by  the  Hornet. 

•The  blockade  of  the  frigates  United  States  and  the 
Macedonian,  and  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  at  New  London, 
having  continued  until  the  only  season  at  which  they 
could  possibly  escape,  had  elapsed,  the  Hornet  wm  or- 
dered to  remain  at  her  station  as  a  guard  shi^  whilst  the 
frigates  were  to  be  moved  up  New  Londoh  river,  to  the 
head  of  navigation  for  heavy  vessels,  and  there  to  be 
dismantled.  Commodore  Decatur,  and  the  crew  of  the 
United  States,  were  transferred  to  the  frigate  President, 
then  moored  at  New  York.  In  the  course  of  the  winter, 
a  cruise  to  the  East  Indies  was  determined  on,  at  the  navy 
department,  to  be  performed  bv  a  sauadron,  consisting 
of  that  frigate,  the  sloop  of  war  reacocK,  then  also  at  New 
York,  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  and  the  Tom  Bowline, 
a  merchant  vessel,  bought  into  the  service  as  a  store  ship. 
The  Hornet  was  therefore  directed  to  proceed  to  the 
same  harbour.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  November, 
captain  Biddle  passed  the  blockading  squadron,  without 
being  discovered,  and  joinec^  commodore  Decatur  at 
New  York.  That  port  had  been,  also,  constantly  block- 
aded, and  several  frigates,  sloops  of  war,  and  a  razee, 
were  at  that  time  cruising  off  the  Hook.  On  the  14th  of. 
January,  commodore  Decatur,  thinking  it  more  likely  td 

Hh 


^mmm^ 


362 


UISTORICAIi  SKETCHES 


•%. 


get  to  sea,  with  the  President  i»indj,  directed  captain 
Warrington  to  follow  him,  with  the  Peacock  and  Hornet, 
as  soon  as  the  Tom  Bowline  was  in  readiness;  and  hav- 
ing assigned  the  island  <^  Tristan  d'Acunha,  as  the  first 
place  ofrendezvous,  proceeded  to  the  bay,  with  a  view 
of  escapine  from  Sandy  Hook  in  the  night  In  conse- 
quence of  me  negligence  of  the  pilot,  the  President  struck 
upon  the  bar,  a^d  remained  there  thumpine,  upwardf^  of 
two  hours.  This  accident  caused  her  ballast  to  shift, 
and  when  extricated  from  this  situation,  by  the  rise  of  the 
tide,  it  was  discovered  that  she  had  entirely  lost  her  trim. 
The  course  of  the  wind  forbidding  her  return  to  port,  the 
commodore  determined,  nevertheless,  upon  running  out 
to  sea,  and  did  not  doubt  but  she  would  soon  recover 
that  ease  in  sailing,  for  which  she  had  been  long  celebra- 
ted. At  dayliffht  he  fell  in  with  the  British  squadron, 
under  captain  Hayes,  composed  of  the  Majestic  (razee), 
the'  frigates  Endymion,  Tenedos,  and  Pomone,  and  the 
Despatch  bris,  which  immediately  gave  chase.  The  Pre- 
sident was  lightened  as  much  as  possible,  but  the  su- 
perior sailing  of  the  enemy's  ships,'  enabled  them  to  &ain 
rapidly  upon  her,  and  the  leading  frigate,  the  Endymion, 
of  49  guns,  and  mounting  24-pounders  on  her  gun  deck, 
^t  close  under  her  quarters,  and  ccnnmenced  firing.--^ 
Commodore  Decatur,  finding  that  the  Endymion  was 
cutting  up  his  ri^ng,  without  his  being  able  to  bring  a 
^n  to  bear,  determined  to  bear  up  and  engage  her,  and 
if  possible,  to  run  her  on  board,  and  in  the  event  of  car- 
rying her,  to  sail  off  and  abandon  the  President.  But  the 
enemy  manoeuvred  to  avoid  this  plan,  and  the  conflict 
continued  two  hours,  and  ended  in  silencing  and  beating 
off  the  Endymion,  with  her  hull  and  ri^ng  much  cut 
up,  her  masts  and  spars  badly  injured,  and  a  great  pro- 
portion of  her  crew  killed  and  wounded.  The  President 
was  a^o  considerably  damaged,  and  lost  ^  men  killed, 
and  60  wounded;  among  the  former,  lieutenants  Babbit 
and  Hamilton,  and  acting  lieutenant  Howell;  among  the 
latter,  the  commodore,  and  midshipman  Dale,  who  lost 
a  leg,  and  died  of  his  wounds  at  Bermuda.  By  this  time 
the  rest  of  the  squadron  came  within  two  miles  of  the 
President  The  Endymion  had  hauled  off  to  repair,  and 
commodore  Decatur  made  another  attempt  to  escape.  But, 
in  three  hours,  the  Pomone  and  Tenedos  lay  along  side. 


" 


far  THS  LATE  WAR. 


S63 


1  captain 
1  Hornet, 
and  hav- 
i  the  firg|t 
h  a  view 
[n  conse- 
nt struck 
•wardp  of 
to  shift, 
ise  of  the 
her  trim, 
port,  the 
ning  out 
recover 
;  celebra- 
quadron, 
(razee), 
and  the 
rhePre- 
t  the  su- 
n  to  ^in 
idjmion, 
un  deck, 
firing.— - 
ion  was 
i  bring  a 
her,  and 
t  of  ear- 
But  the 
conflict 
beating 
uch  cut 
eat  pro- 
resident 
I  killed, 
i  Babbit 
ong  the 
^ho  lost 
Kis  time 
8  of  the 
•air,  and 
)e.  But, 
ttg«de. 


and  the  Majestic  and  Endymion  were  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  him.  The  eallant  commodore,  not  choosing  to 
sacrifice  the  lives  of  his  crew  in  a  useless  contest,  wiui  a 
squadron  of  ships  mounting  not  less  than  110  guns,  r&> 
ceived  the  fire  of  the  nearest  frigate,  and  surrendered. 
He  was  taken  on  board  the  Endymion,  to  whose  comman* 
der  he  refused  to  deliver  his  sword,  when  required,  al- 
leging, that  if  they  had  been  singly  engaged,  that  officer 
would  inevitably  have  been  captured,  and  that  he  had 
struck  to  the  whole  squadron.  The  enemy,  however,  as- 
serted that  the  President  had  been  conquered  by  the  En- 
dymion alone;  that  her  damage  was  sustained  in  a  storm 
which  rose  up  after  the  battle;  and  having  repaired  botii 
vessels,  sent  the  pri^^e  from  Bermuda  to  England,  under 
her  convoy.  There  she  was  lightened,  and  mid  in  dock 
along  side  an  old  74,  which  was  deeply  laden,  to  give  her 
a  smaller  appearance  in  the  water  than  the  President 

The  United  States*  frigate  Constitution,  which  had 
been  some  time  repairing  at  Boston  for  a  cruise,  sailed 
from  that  port  on  the  17tn  December,  still  under  the  com- 
tnand  of  captain  Stewart.  After  cruising  in  various  parts 
of  the  ocean,  and  in  the  track  for  outwara  and  homeward 
bound,  convoys,  until  the  20th  of  February,  she  fell  in  with 
two  strange  men  of  war  sail,  at  ten  minutes  past  1,  P.  M. 
on  that  day.  One  of  these  being  to  windward,  was  bear- 
ing up  for  the  Constitution,  and  at  2h.30m.  displayed  sig- 
nals, and  squared  away  to  the  westward  to  join  her  con- 
sort. The  Constitution  set  every  rag  in  chase,  and  a  few 
minutes  before  3,  commenced  firing  from  her  forward  suns 
on  the  gun  deck.  At  3h.  15m.  the  main  royal  mast  of  the 
Constitution  was  carried  away,  and  enabled  the  enemy's 
vessels  to  distance  her  fire.  Before  5,  a  new  royal  mast 
was  completed,  and  a  little  while  after  the  breeze  fresh- 
ened, and  the  ship  to  leeward  tacked  to  the  southward, 
under  all  sail.  At  6,  the  two  ships  hauled  to,  on  the  lar- 
board tack  in  line,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  Constitution 
ranged  ahead  of  the  stemmost,  brought  her  on  the  quar- 
ter, lier  consort  on  the  bow,  at  200  yards  distance,  and 
opened  a  broadside,  which  was  immediately  returned.  An 
exchange  of  broadsides  continued,  until  uie  three  ships 
were  completely  enveloped  in  smoke,  upon  the  clearing 
awav  of  which,  the  Constitution  found  herself  abreast  of 
the  headmost  ship,  and  captain  Stewart  ordered  both  sides 


364 


HISTORICAI.  SKETCHES 


to  be  manned,  backed  topsails,  uil  dropped  into  his  first 

E)8itiou.  The  ship  on  the  bow  backea  sails  also.  The 
onstitution's  broadsides  were  then  fired  from  the  lar- 
board battery,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  ship  on  the  bow 
perceiving  her  error  in  getting  stemboard,  filled  away, 
with  an  intention  of  tacking  athwart  the  bows  of  the  Con- 
stitution, and  the  ship  on  the  stern  fell  Off,  perfectly  un- 
manageable. The  Constitution  then  filled  away,  in  full 
pursuit  of  the  former,  came  within  100  yards  of  her,  and 
gave  her  several  raking  broadsides.  She  made  all  sail 
before  the  wind,  with  a  view  to  escape,  and  captain  Stew- 
art, knowing  her  crippled  situation  would  enaole  him*  to 
overhaul  her  at  any  time,  after  securing  her  consort,  wore 
round,  and  ranged  along  side  the  latter  ship,  from  which 
a  gun  was  fired  to  leeward,  to  signify  that  she  had  sur- 
rendered. Possession  was  then  taken  by  lieutenant  Hofi- 
mai^,  of  his  Britannic  majesty'^  frigate  Cyane,  captain 
Gordon  Falkon,  of  34  guns,  32lb.  carronades.  Her  com- 
mander and  officers  being  brought  on  board,  captain  Stew- 
art sailed  in  chase  of  the  other  vessel,  and  in  a  short  time 
discovered  her  standing  for  him  on  the  weather  bow.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  enemy  fired  a  broadside,  which  being 
instantly  returned,  he  tacked  ship,  made  all  sail,  and  at 
that  moment  received  a  rake  from  the  starboard  broad- 
side of  the  Constitution.  Upon  gaining  his  wake,  captain 
Stewart  opened  a  fire  from  his  gun  deck  chase  guns,  with 
such  effect,  that  the  enemy  hove  too  and  surrendered  with 
five  feet  water  in  his  hold,  his  masts  tottering,  and  nothing 
but  the  smoothness  of  the  sea  prevented  them  from  going 
overboard.  Lieutenant  Ballard  was  sent  on  board,  and 
took  possession  of  his  Britannic  majesty's  ship  Levant,, 
captain  Douglass,  of  eighteen  32lb.  carronades,  and  two 
large  12  pounders.  The  loss  on  board  the  Cyane  and 
Levant  amounted  to  40  men  killed,  and  nearly  double 
that  number  wounded;  on  board  the  Constitution,  where 
no  other  spar  was  lost  than  the  fore  topgallant  yard,  4 
men  were  killed,  and  11  wounded. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  captain  Stewart,  entered  the 
harbour  of  Port  Psaya  with  his  prizes,  and  on  the  lltb,  a 
British  squadron,  consisting  of  the  lieander,  sir  George 
Collier;  the  Newcastle,  lorn  George  Stewart;  neither  of 
them  carrying  less  than  60  euns;  and  the  frigate  Acasta, 
captain  J^err,  of  44  guns,  which  had  sailed  from  the  east- 


Ol^HE  LATE  WAR. 


S65 


>  his  first 
io.    The 
the  lar- 
the  bow 
jd  away, 
the  Con- 
jctly  un- 
F,  in  full 
her,  and 
all  sail 
in  Stew- 
\  him*  to 
)rt,  wore 
m  which 
had  sur* 
int  HoflT- 
captain 
[er  com- 
in  Stew- 
lort  time 
ow.    In 
h  being 
,  and  at 
broad- 
captain 
US,  with 
ed  with 
nothing 
n  goin^ 
ird,  and 
Levant,, 
nd  two 
ne  and 
double 
,  where 
yard,  4 

ed  the 
11th,  a 
eoi^ 
ler  of 
casta, 
e  east- 


em  coast  of  the  United  States,  in  quest  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, appeared  off  its  entrance.  Captain  Stewart  imme- 
diately made  sail,  escaped  from  tne  harbour  with  his 
squadron,  and  was  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy's  three 
ships.  After  a  Ions  and  perilous  chase,  the  Constitution 
ana  Cyane  escaped  their  pursuers,  and  arrived  safely  in 
the  United  States;  but  the  Levant,  after  whom  all  sail 
was  made  by  the  enemy's  ships,  ran  into  Port  Praya,  with 
a  heavy  fire  of  broadsides  from  the  Leander  and  New- 
castle, to  put  herself  under  the  protection  of  the  neutral 
port.  The  neutrality  of  the  Portuguese  was  not  regarded 
by  the  British  squadron,  however,  and  they  recaptured  the 
Levant,  and  carried  her  into  Barbadoes. 

A  few  days  after  the  departure  of  the  President  from 
New  York,  the  Peacock,  Hornet,  and  Tom  Bowline,  left 
that  harbour,  without  knowing  of  her  capture.  On  the 
third  day  after  sailing  from  Sandy  Hook  (the  £3d  of  Ja- 
nuary,) the  Hornet  parted  company  with  the  Peacock  and 
Tom  Bowline,  and  directed  her  course  towards  the  island 
of  Tristan  d'Acunha,  the  first  designated  rendezvous  for 
the  sauadron.  On  the  23d  of  March,  she  descrfed  the 
Britisn  brig  Penguin,  captain  Dickenson,  of  18  guns,  and 
a  12lb.  carronade,  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  the 
island.  This  vessel  had  been  fitted  out,  and  12  supernu- 
merary marines  put  on  board,  with  whom,  her  crew 
amounted  to  132  men,  to  cruise  for  the  American  priva- 
teer. Young  Wasp.  Captain  Biddle  immediately  made 
sail,  cleared  the  island,  and  hove  to,  until  the  Penguin,  at 
the  same  time  coming  down,  should  be  within  striking 
distance.  At  40  minutes  past  1,  P.  M.  the  Pensuin  haul- 
ed her  wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  hoisted  English  co- 
lours, and  fired  a  gun  at  musket  shot  distance.  The  Hor- 
net immediately  luffed  to,  sent  up  an  ensign,  and  gave  the 
enemy  b  broadside.  A  constant  fire  was  kept  up  for  15 
minutes,  the  Penguin  all  that  time  gradually  nearing  upon 
the  Hornet,  when  captain  Dickenson  gave  orders  to  run 
her  on  board,  and  was  killed  by  a  grape  shot  before  he 
saw  them  executed.  Lieutenant  MT)onald,  upon  whom 
the  command  of  the  Pen^in  then  devolved,  bore  her  Up, 
and  running  her  bowsprit  in  between  the  main  and  mizen 
rigging  of  the  Hornet^  ordered  his  crew  to  board.  His 
men,  however,  seeing  the  Homet^s  boarders  not  orJy 
read^  to  repel  theiii»  but  waiting  for  orders  to  jump  upon 


366 


HISTORICAL  SKEIVHES 


the  Penguin's  deck,  refused  to  follow  him.  At  that  mo- 
ment the  heavy  swell  of  the  86a  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead, 
and  the  enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away  her  mizen  shrouds 
and  spanker  boom,  and  the  Penguin  hung  upon  the  Hor- 
net'B  quarter  deck,  with  the  loss  of  her  foremast  and  bow- 
sprit. Her  commander  then  called  out  that  he  had  sur- 
rendered. Though  he  was  not  distinctly  understood* 
captain  Biddle  ordered  his  marines  to  cease  firing,  and. 
demanded  of  the  Pensuin  whether  she  had  struck.  An 
officer  of  the  Hornet  discovered  a  man  takine  aim  at  cap- 
tain Biddle,  after  the  surrender,  and  called  to  nim  to  avoid 
the  fire.  He  had  scarcely  done  so,  when  a  musket  ball 
struck  the  captain  in  the  neck,  severely  wounded  him,  and 
passed  through  his  coat  collar.  Two  marines,  to  whom 
the  man  was  pointed  out,  who  had  discharged  his  piece  at 
their  commander,  immediately  fired  at  and  killed  him, 
before  he  brought  it  from  his  shoulder.  The  Penguin  just 
then  got  clear  of  the  Hornet,  and  the  latter  wore  round 
to  ^ve  the  enemy  a  fresh  broadside,  when  her  comman- 
der called  out  a  second  time  that  he  had  surrendered. 
The  severest  exercise  of  authority  became  necessary,  to 
prevent*  the  Hornet's  crew,  who  were  incensed  at  the  ene- 
my's firing  after  she  had  struck,  from  discharging  the 
broadside.  Twenty-two  minutes  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  she  was  taken  possession  of  by  Mr. 
Mayo,  of  the  Hornet  The  Penguin  was  so  much  injured, 
that  captain  Biddle  determined  upon  taking  out  her  crew, 
and  scuttling  her;  after  doing  which,  he  sent  his  prisoners 
to  St  Salvador  in  the  Tom  Bowline,  by  which  vessel  and 
the  Peacock  he  was  joined  on  the  25  th  of  the  month.  In 
this  action  the  Penguin  lost  14  men  killed,  and  28  wound- 
ed; the  Hornet,  1  killed,  and  11  wounded;  among  the  lat- 
ter, her  first  lieutenant  Conner,  dangerously.  ^ 

Having  bent  a  new  suit  of  sails,  and  repaired  his  rig- 
ging, captain  Biddle -was  in  a  perfect  condition  to  pro- 
secute the  cruise,  and,  together  with  the  Peacock,  after 
waiting  the  foil  time  for  commodore  Decatur,  at  the 
island  of  Tristan  d'Acunha,  sailed  on  the  r2th  of  April 
for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  On  the  27th,  they  discov- 
ered a  Bntish  ship  of  the  line,  with  an  admiral's  *'""■ 


The  Peacock  and  Hornet  immediately  separated,  and 
made  all  sail  in  different  directions  from  the  stranger, 
who  came  up  in  pursuit  of  the  latter.    The  chase  com- 


I 


&wnt 


HE  LATE  WAS. 


S67 


liat  mo- 
t  ahead » 
shrouds 
lie  Hor- 
[id  bow- 
lad  sur- 
eretood« 
ng,  and. 
ik.    An 
I  at  cap- 
to  avoid 
ket  ball 
liim,  and 
to  whom 
piece  at 
led  him, 
^in  just 
re  round 
;omman- 
endered. 
ssary^  to 
itheene- 
^ng  the 
nmence- 
by  Mr. 
injured, 
ler  crew, 
irisoners 
ssel  and 
nth.    In 
\  wound- 
:  the  lat- 
his rig- 
to  pro- 
:k,  after 
at  the 
)f  April 
discov- 
il's  flag, 
id,   and 
[tranger, 
Vse  com- 


menced  at  about  two  o'clock  of  the  27th.  and  continued 
until  10  in  the  morning  of  the  30th,  during  which  time 
tile  enemy's  bow  guns  were  continually  fircH — his  vessel 
frequently  gained  upon,  aad  was  as  often  dropped  by  the 
Hornet;  ^nd  captain  Biddle,  after  throwing  overboard 
every  heavy  article  at  *hand,  and  all  his  guns  hut  one,  at 
length  effected  his  escape,  and  went  to  St.  Salvador  for 
the  purpose  of  refitting.  On  his  arrival  there,  he  gained 
intelligence  of  the  conclusion  of  hbstilities,  between  the 
two  nations,  and  sailing  thence,  soon  after  returned  to 
the  United  States  about  the  latter  end  of  July»  and  waf 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  post  captain. 

The  capture  of  the  Cyane,  tne  Levant,  and  the  Pen- 
suin,  took  place  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  limited 
by  the  2d  article  of  the  treaty  of  peace,  to  constitute  their 
legality,  and  the  only  one  of  them  which  got  into  port,  the 
Cyane,  was  taken  into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

Thus  terminated  a  war  of  two  years  and  eight  months* 
in  which  the  naval  arms  of  the  United  States,  were  fifteen, 
and  those  of  Great  Britain,  four  times  triumphant;  and 
during  which,  the  former  lost  three  frigates,  Wtven  sloops, 
and  five  smaller  vessels,  of  war:  whilst  the  latter,  lost 
five  frigates,  nineteen  sloops  of  war,  one  of  which  was 
blown  up  b^  a  land  battery,  several  gun  brigs  and  schoon- 
ers, two  brigs  cut  out  from  under  the  guns  of  a  fort,  and 
upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  merchantmen,  captured  by 
private  armed  vessels.  The  operations  of  the  American 
armies,  were,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  not  quite 
so  successful: — ^Defeat,  disgrace,  and  disaster,  in  many 
instances,  followed  their  movements;  but  the  struggle  was 
eventually  closed  by  a  succession  of  achievements,  which 
reflected  the  highest  degree  of  lustre  upon  the  American 
name,  and  ranked  the  United  States  among  the  fijrst  and 
most  independent  nations  of  the  earth. 


FINIS. 


Clark  U  Btuert  Printers. 


■Ml*--'       ■  »     I-'   li 


mmmmmm 


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IP 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER 


General  Brown,  face  title  page. 
Constitution  and  Guerriere,  face  page  39. 
Wasp  alRl  Frolic,  face  page  45. 
United  States  and  Macedonian,  face  Chap.  VII. 
Constitution  and  Java,  face  page  96. 
Hornet  and  Peacock,  face  Chap.  XIII. 


^',<Bi>i.f— >>iili»i«-  i'if  - 


a9. 


ip.  vii. 


